All measures will be taken to ensure the safety of Formula One teams and fans during the Grand Prix in Bahrain next month, the chief executive of the Bahrain International Circuit said Wednesday. The 2011 Bahrain GP was canceled due to a wave of protests. Sheikh Salman Bin Isa Al-Khalifa told the Associated Press that Bahrain was now safe. He said the country was ready to stage the F1 race the Gulf island nation has been hosting since 2004. “The country has moved on and we are on the path of reconciliation,” Sheik Salman said in a phone interview. A “global event with so much exposure” will benefit Bahrain economically and politically, he added. “There will be so much good with Formula One back in Bahrain. I am confident that all measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the teams and fans.” He added no additional security measures will be in place for the race on April 22. “To be honest, every year the standard of security is high, not just in the Formula One race, but for any sporting event like this,” Salman said. “Our country has always handled well events of this nature.” Last week, F1 world champions Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher backed the decision to go ahead with the Bahrain GP despite opposition to the race. Human rights groups have criticized the decision of the world racing body to reinstate the Bahrain race this year. F1 remains committed to staging next month's Bahrain GP. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and team bosses also joined Bahrain officials Wednesday in a strong show of support for the decision to race in the Kingdom. Red Bull principal Christian Horner, whose team is reigning champion, McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh, Mercedes chief executive Nick Fry, Frank Williams and Ecclestone all attended a media lunch hosted by Bahrain circuit officials and the country's ambassador to Britain. “Forget the financial side, it's nothing to do with that at all,” Ecclestone said when asked about the commercial importance of the race to Formula One's revenues. “These people were brave enough at the beginning to start an event in that part of the world. That's it. We'll be there as long as they want us.”
