Bahrain given until May for GP rescheduling

Bahrain has been given until 1 May to decide if its Grand Prix can be rescheduled in 2011.

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The season opener, which would have taken place at the Sakhir circuit this weekend, had to be called off due to civil unrest in the island Kingdom.

After ruling out a new summer date due to the desert weather, Bernie Ecclestone has suggested a November rescheduling so long as there is "peace" in Bahrain.

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on Tuesday and "asked the Bahrain Motor Federation to communicate by May 1 at the latest if the Bahrain Grand Prix can be organised in 2011", a statement confirmed.

During the meeting, a new regulation was also agreed that will allow Pirelli to do some tyre testing during Friday practice this year.

The rule will involve drivers using an extra tyre specification "at certain events".

"Two sets of these tyres will be allocated to each driver for use during P1 and P2, and any such tyres must be returned to the tyre supplier before the start of P3," said the FIA.

Additionally, presumably due to the extreme degradation seen so far in testing, an extra set of hard tyres per driver "may be made available" for Friday practice this year.

"Teams will be informed about such an additional set at least one week before the start of the relevant event," read the statement.