Button impressed with Bahrain

After a visit to the new Shanghai circuit in China earlier this month, this week BAR driver Jenson Button took a trip to the other new venue on the 2004 calendar, Bahrain. The track at Sakhir, near Manama, is scheduled to host the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix on April 4th next year and Button believes it will be a worthwhile addition to the F1 schedule.

Circuit boss sheikh Fawiz ben Mohamed Al-Khalifa showed Button round the $150 million development and Jenson said: "I'm glad we have a Grand Prix in the Middle East, especially in a desert region like Bahrain which makes a change as most of the races are staged in Europe. I'm impressed -- and after all I've seen the circuit here will be among the best in the world."

BAR boss David Richards was the first team principal to visit the Sakhir site last week and was equally impressed. "To see a Formula One circuit emerging from the desert sands is an extraordinary sight and a great credit to the foresight of the Bahraini Government and the Crown Prince," said Richards.

"There is clearly a lot of work to be done before next April but the layout looks superb and I am sure it is going to prove a very challenging venue for Formula One."

Organizers say 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the first F1 race at the 16 turn, 5.5 km circuit. Construction work is not due to be finished until just a few weeks prior to the event but the track itself should be completed by the end of this year.

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