F1 racing event draws ire of repressed Bahrain democracy groups who march in protest | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

Car blast hits Bahrain ahead of F1: police

A Bahraini youth opposition group on Monday said it blew up a car in Manama overnight in an incident the authorities blamed on a “terrorist group” just days ahead of the country’s Formula One Grand Prix. There were no casualties in the blast and no damage other than to the car, police said in a statement.

Ecclestone dismisses F1 Bahrain concerns

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed concerns over this week’s Bahrain Grand Prix after pro-democracy protests escalated and a militant group blew up a car in the capital Manama. Ecclestone said he could see “no reason” why the race, which was cancelled in 2011 after an uprising.