Thousands of opposition protesters in Bahrain have clashed with police as Formula One Grand Prix practice sessions passed unhindered by the unrest, reports said, Aljazeera reported.
Al Jazeera's special correspondent, reporting from Manama, said around 10,000 people took to the streets on Saturday, even as police officials intensified a crackdown on protests in the city and surrounding villages.
"Your race is a crime," chanted the protesters. "No, no to the blood Formula."
The route from Manama to the race circuit has a huge police presence to prevent protesters demanding democratic reform from disrupting the event.
In one of the Shia villages, young protesters clashed with police officers armed with tear gas and pellet guns.
Skirmishes were reported in Sitra, Sanabis, Aali, Jidhafs and Buri, our correspondent said.
This weekend's protests - now in its third day - sought to highlight the opposition's pro-reform demands in the Gulf kingdom.