Formula One season-opener gets extra distance

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - The Bahrain Grand Prix will have a new longer layout extending into the desert for the opening race of the Formula One season on March 14, organisers said on Monday.

They said in a statement that the circuit length had been increased from 5.412km to 6.299 with the addition of a loop of corners as cars accelerate out of turn four.

"With the changes to the regulations, the teams and the driver line-ups in Formula One this year it is the perfect time to evolve the circuit with this new challenge and new overtaking opportunities," said circuit chairman Zayed Alzayani.

(Reporting by Alan Baldiwn, editing by Justin Palmer)