The Bahrain Grand Prix will return to its original circuit layout for the 2011 race, organizers announced on Monday.
Bahrain, which opened the 2010 season, used the extended "endurance track" for this year's edition of the event, as part of the celebrations which marked the 60th anniversary of Formula 1 racing. However, organizers announced on Monday that the 2011 race will take place in the original layout which has hosted the grand prix since 2004. The layout used this year made the track longer and slower, with its length increased from 3.363 miles to 3.914 miles.
"One of the major tasks we undertook to mark this milestone was implementing changes to our FIA-approved track layout, giving the participating teams of the Bahrain Grand Prix a completely new challenge," said Shaikh Salman Bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Bahrain International Circuit. "It was an enormous task given the time frame we had to implement it, but one that demonstrated Bahrain's characteristics as a race promoter prepared to continually make changes designed to heighten the awareness and increase the levels of presentation associated with the sport of Formula 1."