Intro:

The Bahrain Grand Prix is going ahead despite violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators who believe the race should not be held until the government ends its rights abuses and enacts concrete reforms that benefit the Shiite majority.

Script:

This is the last thing Formula 1 officials want to see.

The Bahrain Grand Prix is going ahead despite violent clashes between riot police and demonstrators who believe the race should not be held until the government ends its rights abuse and enforces concrete reforms that benefit the Shiite majority.

On a day again dominated by politics and safety concerns, as well as a visit to the circuit by the country's Crown Prince, the F1 teams have been struggling to focus on motor racing.

Anti-government protests continued in Bahrain on Friday (April 20th) as drivers in the Gulf island state's controversial Formula One race contested the second practice session ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on a major highway shouting slogans against the ruling Sunni dynasty.

The Force India team announced it would not take part in the second practice due to safety concerns after two Force India members left the Gulf nation in the wake of a team vehicle being briefly delayed because of a firebomb.

Formula One is popular in the kingdom, but demonstrators say the hosting of the Grand Prix which is meant to bring economic benefits to the country is being used to cover up the problems that remain.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Mohammed Abbas, former local councillor:

"We want our economy to flourish but at the same time it should not be at the expense of the real people who are the source of power."

The Grand Prix race is Bahrain's premier international event, part of the island kingdom's attempts to boost its prestige in recent years.