Bernie: Bahrain paid for 2011 race
2011-09-19 22:11
BAHRAIN PAID: F1 chief executive Bernie Eccelstone said Bahrain paid the sanctioning fee for their F1 race, which was cancelled.
Bahrain paid its race fee for 2011 despite not hosting a grand prix.
Amid the island Kingdom's troubles early in 2011, Bernie Ecclestone revealed that he would not charge the government the reportedly more than $40-million fee (about R304-million).
"The fee normally paid for the event is not being paid," Ecclestone allegedly said at the time. "I am not charging them for a race they are not getting."
CASH-BACK OFFER
According to London's The Independent, Ecclestone said the fact Bahrain ultimately paid the 2011 fee meant that the sport's revenue and profit would not reverse this year.
"I don't think turnover will be down this year. I think it will be flat because we were paid for Bahrain. I said we would give them the money back and they said don't bother."
Bahrain is scheduled to return to the F1 calendar in April 2012.
ALTERNATIVE F1 DESTINATIONS
"I spoke to the Bahrainis yesterday and they said everything was going to be fine. I hope they are right for their sake, not ours," Eccleston added.
If Bahrain does not come back, Ecclestone already has plans for F1's likely next destinations.
"After Russia I would like to go to South Africa and Mexico. Both countries are trying to do something. Greece is also trying to do a race."
On Greece's economic problems, he quipped: "The Germans will lend them some money."
