FORMULA One's governing body has ended weeks of controversy and wrangling after it cancelled the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.
The FIA’s decision to go ahead with the race had cast a black cloud over the sport after human rights groups reported that pro-democracy campaigners opposing the Gulf state’s ruling Al Khalifa family are still being attacked by police with tear gas, rubber bullets and sound grenades.
But there was a major climbdown when senior figures connected to the sport, including the main promoter Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, the former head of the FIA, weighed in to oppose the decision.
Foreign Secretary William Hague also described the decision as a set-back for the sport.
Although the race, which had been due to go ahead in March at the height of the protests, was reinstated for October 30, it could not go ahead without the support of the teams who did not wish to race there for logistical and insurance reasons.
Local organisers finally announced earlier this month it would be “in the best interest of the sport” not to stage the race.
The FIA said its World Motor Sport Council had voted against the event and published a new schedule of races without Bahrain.
In a statement, it said: “Following a fax vote of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and, by unanimous decision, the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar has been ratified as originally proposed.”
The Grand Prix was due to be the season’s first race, but was called off amid anti-government protests which has seen at least 31 people killed since February.
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