Feb.11 (GMM) Despite forking out an estimated 250,000 euros apiece to set up for two weeks of testing in the Middle East, three formula one teams came unstuck on Wednesday
The pitlane lights shone red and the Bahrain International Circuit was silent, after a huge sandstorm struck the desert area of the Sakhir venue
Visibility around the circuit and in the paddock was close to zero, and the medical helicopter did not have clearance to fly, meaning that the test could not proceed
The severity of the storm, and the nature of the winds, made it unlikely at the time of writing that the test will resume at any point in the afternoon
Ferrari, BMW-Sauber and Toyota, having opted for Bahrain amid the threat of rain at the European test venue Jerez this week, were also hindered on Tuesday morning when fog prevented the helicopter to fly for two hours
Felipe Massa, Robert Kubica and Timo Glock had been scheduled to drive on Wednesday, in otherwise warm and dry conditions
Ironically, back in Spain, conditions for the five teams present at Jerez on Wednesday are sunny, clear and dry, as Mark Webber as scheduled made his return with a healing broken leg
