India Embassy officials in Bahrain are gearing up for a rush of visa applications as India prepares to host its first Formula One race next month.

The Embassy has already issued 21 visas for Bahrainis, who will be working as marshals or as part of the Buddh International Circuit medical team at the historic event.

The Airtel India Grand Prix will take place from October 28 to 30 in Greater Noida, near New Delhi.

The 60-lap race is expected to attract up to 150,000 spectators.

"We have issued 21 visas since last month," said an embassy official. "These are qualified personnel such as marshals, who will help in the race. Those interested in attending the race can apply for the normal visit visa that will be processed at the embassy."

Motorsport governing body the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) earlier appointed Bahraini Dr Amjad Obaid chief medical officer to lead the task of training and assisting medics for the race.

He also heads the medical team at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir.

"We have brought in 150 marshals from Bahrain, 70 from Dubai and 54 from Europe. But we are also training 700 Indians," Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India president Vicky Chandhok told the Indian edition of the Economic Times.

Dr Obaid previously said his role would include training doctors and more than 190 medical staff through a series of workshops and seminars.

It was viewed as a major honour for Bahrain after it was forced to cancel its F1 race due to the unrest.

The Bahrain Motor Federation will assist Dr Obaid to carry out the specialised training which also includes basic of marshalling concepts.

At last year's Bahrain Grand Prix, Dr Obaid led a team of close to 180 people with 15 specialised professionals.

They included staff from primary healthcare, physicians, nurses from the Accident and Emergency department at Salmaniya Medical Complex, paramedics and food inspectors. – TradeArabia News Service