NASCAR Cup Series

Bahrain returns, Turkey dropped from F1 calendar

Published Jul. 29, 2011 10:14 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Bahrain Grand Prix is set to return to the Formula One calendar next year, with the Turkish GP to be dropped.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has circulated the proposed schedule at the Hungarian GP, where the teams will give their say before governing body FIA approves the dates.

Simone Perillo, general secretary of the Formula One Teams Association, tells The Associated Press that Turkey did not make the cut while Bahrain will be held in November. That leaves the Australian GP as the season opener for a second straight year.

This year's Bahrain GP was canceled in the wake of political unrest in the Gulf country. At least 32 people have been killed in a crackdown on anti-government protests.

The Turkish GP has been held in Istanbul since 2005.