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2 DRS zones from Canada
The FIAâs Charlie Whiting has confirmed that there will be two DRS zones at each race â if the circuit layout allows it â starting from Montreal.
The two zones will have to be consecutive, as the wing will be activated at the same point. In Montreal they will be the last straight and the pit straight.
Whiting said the software that allows the use of two zones first became available for Turkey, but it wasnât yet proven. âWe only had the software available in Turkey,â
2 DRS zones from Canada
The FIAâs Charlie Whiting has confirmed that there will be two DRS zones at each race â if the circuit layout allows it â starting from Montreal.
The two zones will have to be consecutive, as the wing will be activated at the same point. In Montreal they will be the last straight and the pit straight.
Whiting said the software that allows the use of two zones first became available for Turkey, but it wasnât yet proven. âWe only had the software available in Turkey,â
[h1]Bahrain hopes to hold race later this year[/h1]
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP, 1 June 2011
Bahrain has asked Formula 1's governing body to reschedule its grandprix when it meets on Friday, insisting the country is returning tonormal despite lasting political tensions.
Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the BIC
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP Images
Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit which holds the Bahrain Grand Prix, told The Associated Press that the Gulf country was ready to "hold the race today."
Alzayani said he was hopeful it will be held in October or Novemberto coincide with the Abu Dhabi GP on Nov. 13 so that teams wouldn't beforced to go back and forth to Europe or some other destination.
It was the first time Bahrain has formally said its Bahrain MotorFederation has proposed rescheduling the March race, which was canceledby Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa overanti-government protest.
"We feel we are in position to have that event back," Alzayani said."Things have calmed down tremendously in Bahrain. Life is back tonormal. We are happy to have the race anytime really."
Alzayani said he has "received positive feedback" when talking withF1 officials, teams and drivers about a new date. However, some teamprincipals, including Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali, have expressed concerns about extending the season to Dec. 11 due to logistical challenges.
Alzayani dismissed such concerns, noting that this year's season would still be a week shorter since it started two weeks late.
"If the world council decides to have a race, the teams will have tocome," he said. "A, they get paid, and B, they have to score points.It's not like there will be a race and no teams will show up."
If, and when, the race goes ahead will be decided during Friday's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Barcelona.
Alzayani argued that rescheduling the race would bolster spirits ofBahrainis and give its battered economy a boost. He estimated the racealone could infuse $500 million into the country and "could be a nicecatalyst to re-ignite the economy."
"We went through a rough patch and we need nice moments in ourhistory now for the nation," Alzayani said. "Formula 1 has always beena time where Bahrain showcases itself to the world not only as a sportsarena but as society, a community that Bahrain as a nation has tooffer. Formula 1 can bring back joy to the country."
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestonehas led the campaign to reschedule the race but doing so has angeredsome local and international rights groups who feel it wouldessentially condone the country's violent crackdown on protesters.
At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began inFebruary, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia andEgypt. The difference in Bahrain is that they took on a sectarian tone,with the majority Shiite protesters taking to streets to demonstrateagainst the Sunni-led kingdom as well as widespread discrimination.
Authorities responded with a heavy hand, imposing a three-monthemergency rule as well as ordering closed-door trials and massdetentions of hundreds of protesters, activists and others.
With the fate of the Bahrain GP hanging in the balance, thegovernment loosed its grip somewhat. It announced plans to lift theemergency law as of Wednesday, and on Tuesday King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa expressed a willingness to resume talks with protest factions.
But for rights groups, conditions are not ripe for a major sporting event.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch sent a letter last week to theFIA and the Formula One Teams Association asking for them to take intoaccount the abuses of anti-government protesters when making theirdecision.
"Sadly, serious violations like arbitrary arrest, incommunicadodetention, and alleged torture by Bahraini authorities predate theimposition of martial law in mid-March," said Tom Porteous, deputyprogram director at Human Rights Watch. "There is little reason tothink that ending martial law on June 1 will make much difference inBahrain's menacing human rights climate."
Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, saidon Tuesday his group opposes rescheduling the race because of what hesaid the government's ongoing crackdown which has included arbitrarydetentions and torture of Shiite protesters. All segments of societyhave been targeted, he said, including at least 29 employees of therace circuit, who were detained for taking part in the protest thatkicked off in February.
"Bahrain has had a bloody crackdown where we lost a lot of lives andwe see Formula 1 coming without taking into consideration this miseryand sadness," Rajab said. "It's not a good message to the human rightsdefenders and reformists in Bahrain."
Alzayani acknowledged that 24 of his 108 employees were detained.But he insisted the circuit is above politics and does not discriminatebased on religion or sect.
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP Images
"There were some employees detained but they were not all Shiites. Some where Sunnis," he said.
"We still have employees working who are Shiite, Sunnis andChristians. We never looked at race or sect thing. We look atproductivity and loyalty to the job. They weren't detained because theywere Shiite but because they had cases against them. Some have beenreleased. Some are still under dentition."
Alzayani also played down the extent of the crackdown, saying thegovernment has repeatedly said no one was being tortured and that thearrest of the protesters was justified due to the disruptions theycaused in terms of closing down major highways and bringing business incapital Manama to a halt for several days.
"There are people who committed crimes and they have to be tried.This would happen any place in the world," he said. "I keep referringto what happened here when they shut down the highway for three days.Can you image Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai, Park Lane in London or theChamps Elysee in Paris? I'm sure any sovereign government would reactswiftly."
I'm not sure if this would be the right time (this season) for resuming the race. Although the change in climate might provide an interesting aspect.
[h1]Bahrain hopes to hold race later this year[/h1]
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP, 1 June 2011
Bahrain has asked Formula 1's governing body to reschedule its grandprix when it meets on Friday, insisting the country is returning tonormal despite lasting political tensions.
Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the BIC
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP Images
Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit which holds the Bahrain Grand Prix, told The Associated Press that the Gulf country was ready to "hold the race today."
Alzayani said he was hopeful it will be held in October or Novemberto coincide with the Abu Dhabi GP on Nov. 13 so that teams wouldn't beforced to go back and forth to Europe or some other destination.
It was the first time Bahrain has formally said its Bahrain MotorFederation has proposed rescheduling the March race, which was canceledby Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa overanti-government protest.
"We feel we are in position to have that event back," Alzayani said."Things have calmed down tremendously in Bahrain. Life is back tonormal. We are happy to have the race anytime really."
Alzayani said he has "received positive feedback" when talking withF1 officials, teams and drivers about a new date. However, some teamprincipals, including Ferrari's Stefano Domenicali, have expressed concerns about extending the season to Dec. 11 due to logistical challenges.
Alzayani dismissed such concerns, noting that this year's season would still be a week shorter since it started two weeks late.
"If the world council decides to have a race, the teams will have tocome," he said. "A, they get paid, and B, they have to score points.It's not like there will be a race and no teams will show up."
If, and when, the race goes ahead will be decided during Friday's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Barcelona.
Alzayani argued that rescheduling the race would bolster spirits ofBahrainis and give its battered economy a boost. He estimated the racealone could infuse $500 million into the country and "could be a nicecatalyst to re-ignite the economy."
"We went through a rough patch and we need nice moments in ourhistory now for the nation," Alzayani said. "Formula 1 has always beena time where Bahrain showcases itself to the world not only as a sportsarena but as society, a community that Bahrain as a nation has tooffer. Formula 1 can bring back joy to the country."
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestonehas led the campaign to reschedule the race but doing so has angeredsome local and international rights groups who feel it wouldessentially condone the country's violent crackdown on protesters.
At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began inFebruary, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia andEgypt. The difference in Bahrain is that they took on a sectarian tone,with the majority Shiite protesters taking to streets to demonstrateagainst the Sunni-led kingdom as well as widespread discrimination.
Authorities responded with a heavy hand, imposing a three-monthemergency rule as well as ordering closed-door trials and massdetentions of hundreds of protesters, activists and others.
With the fate of the Bahrain GP hanging in the balance, thegovernment loosed its grip somewhat. It announced plans to lift theemergency law as of Wednesday, and on Tuesday King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa expressed a willingness to resume talks with protest factions.
But for rights groups, conditions are not ripe for a major sporting event.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch sent a letter last week to theFIA and the Formula One Teams Association asking for them to take intoaccount the abuses of anti-government protesters when making theirdecision.
"Sadly, serious violations like arbitrary arrest, incommunicadodetention, and alleged torture by Bahraini authorities predate theimposition of martial law in mid-March," said Tom Porteous, deputyprogram director at Human Rights Watch. "There is little reason tothink that ending martial law on June 1 will make much difference inBahrain's menacing human rights climate."
Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, saidon Tuesday his group opposes rescheduling the race because of what hesaid the government's ongoing crackdown which has included arbitrarydetentions and torture of Shiite protesters. All segments of societyhave been targeted, he said, including at least 29 employees of therace circuit, who were detained for taking part in the protest thatkicked off in February.
"Bahrain has had a bloody crackdown where we lost a lot of lives andwe see Formula 1 coming without taking into consideration this miseryand sadness," Rajab said. "It's not a good message to the human rightsdefenders and reformists in Bahrain."
Alzayani acknowledged that 24 of his 108 employees were detained.But he insisted the circuit is above politics and does not discriminatebased on religion or sect.
[emoji]169[/emoji] AP Images
"There were some employees detained but they were not all Shiites. Some where Sunnis," he said.
"We still have employees working who are Shiite, Sunnis andChristians. We never looked at race or sect thing. We look atproductivity and loyalty to the job. They weren't detained because theywere Shiite but because they had cases against them. Some have beenreleased. Some are still under dentition."
Alzayani also played down the extent of the crackdown, saying thegovernment has repeatedly said no one was being tortured and that thearrest of the protesters was justified due to the disruptions theycaused in terms of closing down major highways and bringing business incapital Manama to a halt for several days.
"There are people who committed crimes and they have to be tried.This would happen any place in the world," he said. "I keep referringto what happened here when they shut down the highway for three days.Can you image Sheik Zayed Road in Dubai, Park Lane in London or theChamps Elysee in Paris? I'm sure any sovereign government would reactswiftly."
I'm not sure if this would be the right time (this season) for resuming the race. Although the change in climate might provide an interesting aspect.