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A team from the Porsche Supercup, a supporting series during the upcoming Grand Prix of Bahrain this weekend has cancelled its participation in the race, outing its doubts about the safety at the middle-east country.
http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns24066.html wrote:
APRIL 21, 2012
Todt defends Bahrain GP
BY TONY DODGINS
FIA president Jean Todt has defended the governing body's decision to run the Bahrain GP against a backdrop of civil unrest in the country.
Speaking to BBC TV presenter Jake Humphrey, Todt denied that the race was one of F1's biggest ever gambles.
"I would not put it like that," he said. "It's true to say there has been a lot of information about Bahrain -- comments, aggravation -- but we have to take rational decisions and step forward relating to proper facts relating to information we have. For us the situation is quite clear and we are not looking at any reason why not to run the race."
Todt denied that Wednesday's petrol bomb incident involving Force India was actually a valid reason to reconsider.
"I spoke with Bob Fernley (Force India's deputy team principal) and it was not an attack that was guided to them. I can understand there can be some emotion, but there can be emotion in a stadium when you have a soccer match when there are problems. It can happen all over the world.
"I had a long discussion with Peter Sauber yesterday and this morning, and he said to me, 'You know, I feel definitely as safe here as I feel in any other grand prix in the world and specifically in Europe.' "
Todt claimed that in a poll of Bahraini people - half Bahraini and half of foreign extraction -- 77% were happy about the grand prix, 10% were against it and 13% were ambivalent.
Asked about reports that a protestor had been killed in clashes with police on Friday evening, Todt said that his information was that there had been three injuries among 4000 protestors and added: "We know protests can have a negative and there can be consequences, but I am not sure the protests would not have happened if the grand prix did not happen."
One of the most controversial aspects of the weekend is the Bahrainis creating the 'UniF1ed' promotional poster for a race that the governing body has repeatedly stated has nothing to do with politics....
"There can be a lot of interpretation," Todt said. "I understand that in the UK some opposition parties are against running the grand prix, but if you take the comments of the actual prime minister, he feels things are moving in the right direction."
This was a reference to British Labour leader Ed Miliband who said that the race should not go ahead. His shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper claimed that British drivers should not race.
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, however, argued: "I find it very frustrating that politicians in the UK were saying that we should withdraw once we got here. Why didn't they say anything beforehand? For somebody to try and make Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton determine the foreign policy of the country, is wrong."
Prime minister David Cameron, in response, said that it was a matter for Formula 1 and that Bahrain is not Syria.
Todt added: "If we had a new vote today of the world council, I am convinced there is no new evidence that would make the decision different. You can always focus on a very limited amount of people and opinion and make headlines out of it, but the reality from what we have seen from all the investigations, is different."
In conclusion, however, Todt admitted he could not rule out the possibility of a protest during the race.
"How can I say it cannot happen?" he conceded. "It has happened in Europe, in the UK, in Germany. I hope nothing will happen, but I cannot foresee what will be tomorrow."
http://www.carmag.co.za/article/dont-fo ... 2002-05-15Not sure I could agree this point. Having the ability to criticise something that you have great love for is not an example of hypocrisy, just refreshing honesty. A subject cannot be improved unless it is open to receiving and accepting criticism. At least that was the case the last time my wife criticised me!myurr wrote:And yet one very important person will know whether you watch the race - you. If you want to claim the moral high ground and criticise those holding the race and openly accuse them of corruption, then it is very hypocritical for you to then watch that race. I hope you can see that.andartop wrote:So, indeed, no one will ever know whether I watch the race or not on my telly.
And yes, I will watch the race, hoping to see it being stopped by people of Bahrain. Keeping my fingers crossed that they meet eye to eye, and have a chat with Bernie, Todt and others who have supported the murderers.http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-04-22/funeral-march-for-bahrain-protester-planned-for-sunday/ wrote:
12:14am, Sun 22 Apr 2012 Violent clashes in Bahrain
Funeral march for Bahrain protester planned for Sunday
Last updated Sat 21 Apr 2012
A funeral march for a protester who reportedly died in anti-government protests in Bahrain will probably take place on Sunday, setting the scene for more violent clashes.
A body, said to be that of Salah Abbas Habib, 36, was found sprawled on a rooftop in Shakura, near Manama.
Several witnesses as well as the opposition party Wefaq say he was beaten by police and that he may also have been hit by birdshot.
Hear Hear!manchild wrote:This is the lowest point of F1 history ever. The FIA, FOM, teams, present sponsors, and drivers are all together bunch of greedy, inhumane lowlifes. Racing never included walking over dead bodies if necessary, and giving support to murderers.
And yes, I will watch the race, hoping to see it being stopped by people of Bahrain. Keeping my fingers crossed that they meet eye to eye, and have a chat with Bernie, Todt and others who have supported the murderers.http://www.itv.com/news/update/2012-04-22/funeral-march-for-bahrain-protester-planned-for-sunday/ wrote:
12:14am, Sun 22 Apr 2012 Violent clashes in Bahrain
Funeral march for Bahrain protester planned for Sunday
Last updated Sat 21 Apr 2012
A funeral march for a protester who reportedly died in anti-government protests in Bahrain will probably take place on Sunday, setting the scene for more violent clashes.
A body, said to be that of Salah Abbas Habib, 36, was found sprawled on a rooftop in Shakura, near Manama.
Several witnesses as well as the opposition party Wefaq say he was beaten by police and that he may also have been hit by birdshot.
Please don't forget Roland Ratzenberger...I don't like how people forget this important souls departure the day before Senna was taken...SeijaKessen wrote:I agree 100% with manchild.
It pains me to think of how F1 has been led into disrepute by a small number of greedy individuals for which the only consideration is power and money.
When I think of all of the drivers killed in F1, who were heroes to untold amounts of people...all I can think is, is this what they ultimately died for? So people like Bernie, Mosely, and Todt, could use the sport for their own gains?
I believe Senna, McLaren, Villeneuve, Clark, Peterson, Williamson, Pryce, and others have to be rolling in their graves at this travesty.
Macca is 50% owned by the Royals so they will definitely race, which pressures Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes to race otherwise it will be a free gift of 25 points regardless how disgraceful the situation is Mclaren is loving this event.Lca1443 wrote:I'd love to watch F1 tomorrow, but it would make me happy to see a '05 Indianapolis-esque race (with every team going into the garages).
