The troubled Bahrain GP has received the backing of UN official Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, the man who led the highly critical report of the country's handling of last year's protests, saying that the race should go ahead.
The future of the 2012 Bahrain race is still unclear, with the political climate in the Gulf kingdom still fractured and human rights groups calling for the race to be cancelled.
But FOM chief Bernie Ecclestone remains happy for the race to continue as things stand, and the Bahrain International Circuit released tickets for the 2012 race last week.
Now, the race has secured another piece of good news, with Bassiouni writing to the track's chairman to say that the race would help "national healing and reconciliation".
Bassiouni headed up the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry in 2011, which investigated the government's handling of last year's political protests.
The report was highly critical of the ruling powers in Bahrain, but said that there was no evidence of human rights violations.
And his letter, which has been widely disseminated throughout the F1 media, reveals his support for the race going ahead.
"This is an important initiative, which gives another opportunity for the People of Bahrain to come together again after all that has happened in the last year," Bassiouni wrote.
"The Grand Prix is a significant national event, which is of great interest to a substantial percentage of the population and all of its communities.
"It is therefore an event of deserved national pride, which you have used in this year's launching as a way of promoting national healing and reconciliation."
He added that the race could serve as a "point of departure" for the country after last year's violence.
"It is, on this one year anniversary of the February/March events of last year, an important point of departure for the People of Bahrain to forge ahead in their national efforts towards reconciliation," he rambled.
"You and the respective organizations involved are to be commended on this initiative.
"I hope there will be many in Bahrain, during this year and in the years to come, who will consolidate the processes of national reconciliation, and that all elements of society will add their support and positive encouragement to this and other similar endeavours designed to enhance national reconciliation."
The Bahrain Grand Prix is set to take place on April 22nd, the fourth round of the 2012 Formula One world championship.
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