Bahrain confident despite Dubai's F1 park plan.

Contrary to the belief that the proposed Formula One theme park being built in Dubai could herald the switch of the Middle East's grand prix to the kingdom, Bahrain International Circuit is confident that the project will be good for both venues.

Formula One Administration announced the deal to build the 'Formula One World' theme park, to be located in Dubai's MotorCity, over the Chinese GP weekend, and many immediately claimed that the $360m project - featuring state-of-the-art entertainment, a hotel and conference centre - would spell the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the race switching to Dubai at the end of the race's current contract in 2009, a year after completion is expected on the theme park.

However, according to representatives of the BIC, the theme park is 'good news' for Bahrain, as 'it will generate greater awareness for the sport in the region and drive many more enthusiastic supporters of the world's fastest sport to the Kingdom for the annual race'.

"We see the development of the entertainment park in Dubai as being extremely beneficial to Bahrain at a time when the awareness and enthusiasm for the Formula One world championship is growing in the region," circuit general manager Martin Whitaker continued, "Having the security of a long-term contract to stage the Middle East's only grand prix is vitally important to the circuit and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

"We are now entering a new phase in the development of the sport and associated business activities here in Bahrain. The circuit has a strong portfolio of international
and regional racing, the pinnacle of which is Formula One, while our business focus is now on the ongoing development, in Bahrain, of the region's first active exhibition and business centre."

Having already staged both the F1 world championship and the GP2 finale this season, Bahrain International is now preparing for the last round of the FIA GT Championship, the inaugural Formula BMW World Finals and the European Drag Racing Championship, as well as looking forward to the addition of the Australian V8 Supercar series to its 2006 schedule.

The company working alongside the FOA in planning the theme park, Union Properties, is the same company that built the highly-regarded Dubai Autodrome, which opened in 2004, the same as Bahrain.