Bahrain Grand Prix date for 2012 changed

Aug 5, 2011, 14:43 GMT

London - The Bahrain Grand Prix, which was scheduled to open the 2012 season, has been rescheduled for later in the season, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said.

Ecclestone is quoted in Friday's Financial Mail as saying that he was approached by the Bahrain race organizers who asked him to change the date.

'They did not want it at the start, so I had to change the whole race calendar,' Ecclestone said.

The race, which was cancelled this year after protests in Bahrain resulted in several deaths, has now been scheduled for November 4 next year.

The first race calendar had the Bahrain Grand Prix pencilled in as the first race of the season, but a spokesman for the Bahrain International Circuit said that November was the best month for the race.

He also pointed out though, that Ecclestone's suggested race calendar needed to be ratified by the sport's controlling body, FIA.

This might not be automatic.

There should be little discussion about the start in Australia, but the final third of the season comes close to a minor trip around the world.

The Singapore is scheduled for September 23, followed by Japan (October 7) and South Korea (October 14). From there the teams have to move to Abu Dhabi and Bahrain (October 28 and November 4).

The Grand Prix circus then moves across to the US, where the first race in Austin, Texas is scheduled for November 18, with the Brazilian race being held a week later.

Some of the teams have said that the trip from the US to Brazil could cause logistical problems.