The Bahrain International Circuit have responded to rumours that next weekend's scheduled Grand Prix race may not go ahead.

Rumours are rife that the fourth race of the season could be cancelled, as it was last year, because of protests in the Persian Gulf island state.

However, BIC chairman Zayed Al Zayani has criticised the reports, saying: "This, combined with the scaremongering tactics of certain small extremist groups on social networking sites, has created huge misconceptions about the current situation."

Al Zayani was defiant that the race will take place for the eighth time at the Sakhir venue on April 22.

He added: "What has been happening is that armchair observers, who have not been sufficiently interested or committed to investigate the situation for themselves, have been driving this debate, at the expense of those neutral parties who have taken the trouble to investigate the situation at first hand.

"I therefore urge all stakeholders in the sport to listen to those with an informed, educated view of the situation and to form their views on the facts of the situation, as presented by neutral first-hand observers."

F1 will travel to China for the third Grand Prix of the 2012 world championship this weekend.