Stray dogs did not run across the track earlier this week during Formula One testing in Bahrain, an official at the Sakhir venue has clarified.

It was reported that Tuesday's session had to be stopped for ten minutes because two dogs found a way from the surrounding desert into the Bahrain International Circuit, scene of round four of this year's world championship in April.

The local Gulf Daily News had reported the incident as a ‘lighter note’ to Tuesday's serious track action, sparking comparisons with last May in Turkey, when the GP2 car driven by Bruno Senna struck and killed a stray dog during the F1 support race, drawing the ire of the FIA.

In the wake of the latest reports, however, Bahrain circuit operations director Mark Hughes said that while Tuesday's session was stopped, the dogs did not run across the track.

"They were inside the venue, but not in the circuit area," he clarified. "The dogs were seen by marshals before they crossed the track so as a precaution we stopped the session."

Hughes also played down comparisons with the 2008 Istanbul incident and said Bahrain takes the issue ‘very seriously’.

"We have very robust fencing around the venue, which is regularly checked for animal incursions. We carry out regular maintenance checks of the fencing and perimeter and we have very robust communication network around the track," he added.

Source: GMM
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