(Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team)
The Bahrain Grand Prix organisers can block any new Middle
Eastern Grand Prix as Qatar confirms an interest in hosting a Formula One
event.
There are currently two Grand Prix in the Middle East,
Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. The organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix feel that
although the sport has a growing fan base there is not enough interest to
warrant a third Middle Eastern Grand Prix venue.
Qatar, will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the country
could be looking to do what the Sochi Grand Prix organisers did where the
Russian Grand Prix took place around the Olympic Park in Sochi.
The vice president of the FIA in the Middle East, Nasser
Khalifa Al Attiyah of Qatar believes that competition for races is good for the
Middle East.
He said that one of the main advantages now is that it is
extremely easy to travel within the Middle East with up to ten flights a day
from Bahrain to Qatar and then from Qatar to the UAE.
He confirmed that Qatar are certainly thinking about Formula
One and other motorsports in the region having had Moto GP in the region.
It has now emerged however that under the terms of the
contract with Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, the
Bahrain Grand Prix can block any new Middle Eastern circuit by way of an
unofficial veto.
(Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team)
© Ben Johnston 2015
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