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Bahrain opens Formula one season

26/10/2005

Bahrain will host the first Formula one grand prix of the 2006 season as other major sporting events have forced F1 bosses to rethink next year's calendar.

The Middle Eastern country will hold the opening round on March 12 as Melbourne, the host of the season opener since 1996, is the venue for the Commonwealth Games, which begins on March 15th.

The Australian round of the championship will now go ahead on April 2nd, after races in Bahrain and Malaysia.

The football World Cup has also meant that the German grand prix, which would have clashed with the tournament next June, has been moved to July 30th, with the British grand prix moved to June 11th.

"Time differences and TV schedules around the World Cup were always going to be taken into consideration, so we're not entirely surprised that a number of circuits have had to change dates," Silverstone's managing director, Richard Phillips, said.

Despite the farce involving the United States grand prix last year, Indianapolis retains its race and has been moved to American independence weekend.

The final grand prix of the year is scheduled to be in Brazil at Interlagos on October 22nd, but the race has not yet been finalised and is subject to the contract being finalised.

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