Could we see racing on a Saturday?

Martin Whittaker: Bahrain International Circuit Chief

The boss of the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain played down local hopes that the country’s Formula One Grand Prix might be raced on a Saturday in the future.

F1 races have traditionally been held on Sundays, which in Bahrain is actually a normal, working day.

Not only this, April 19, the provisional date of the 2009 race at the Sakhir circuit, is the first day of the summer school term, resulting in one local school principal to delay the start of the term until Monday so that his pupils and staff can attend the race.

Ed Goodwin, Principal of St. Christopher’s School, said in Gulf Weekly:

“We consider that F1 should, in future years, consider a Saturday date for race days in Muslim countries and hope that some consideration might be given to this by the worldwide F1 body.”

However, Martin Whitaker, chief executive of the Bahrain International Circuit, cast doubts on the possibility of the plan coming to fruition.

“The FIA and formula one have for many years worked towards continuity in qualifying and race day timings.

“Moving the race to a Saturday would cause many, many problems for the organisers of the championship, not least in global television schedules.”

Neal’s View: There’s a bit of a difference between changing the day of free practice, as happens in Monaco where the traditional Friday practice session is held on a Thursday, and changing the day a race is held. With Ecclestone trying to get better coverage for European viewers by holding night-races (Singapore) and later starts (Australia), I cannot see him accepting a proposed change in the race day.