Protesters in Bahrain plan to step up demands for reform ahead of this weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix, setting the scene for a showdown with authorities determined to stage an incident-free race.

Protesters in Bahrain plan to step up demands for reform ahead of this weekend's Formula One Grand Prix, setting the scene for a showdown with authorities determined to stage an incident-free race.

The main opposition Al-Wefaq political bloc has called for a massive rally to coincide with free practice on Friday, the same day the radical February 14 Movement has urged youths to protest under the slogan "Volcano of Anger".

The Al-Wefaq is to protest under the banner "Democracy is Our Right".

"We are not against the Formula One Grand Prix, but we want the world to hear our demands -- democracy, respect of human rights, and an elected government," said leading Al-Wefaq figure Khalil al-Marzooq told news agencies.

Late on Tuesday, youths took to the streets across populated villages, sounding drums and chanting: "No to the Formula of blood," in reference to the three-day event.

Video footage posted on YouTube showed masked protesters setting alight tires and carrying pictures of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, his face marked with a X.

Ecclestone has said he sees "no reason" why the Bahrain race should not be successful.

Government spokeswoman Samira Rajab said that "Bahrain is ready to host the F1 and there are no security issues," dismissing the protests as "childish movements implementing Iranian agendas... that will not affect the race."

"More than 100 people have so far been arrested," said Marzooq.

On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused Bahrain of "trying to use the Grand Prix as a platform to show progress, with claims that the human rights situation has improved, whilst stepping up repression in order to ensure nothing disturbs their public image".

It urged Bahrain to "immediately release all prisoners of conscience, let demonstrators exercise their rights peacefully and allow unrestricted access to NGOs and journalists to monitor the situation around the Grand Prix".

Bahrain was rocked by peaceful protests demanding democracy, reforms and social justice, led by the opposition groups in early 2011 that were crushed with the help of troops from Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia.

The race was cancelled that year but went ahead in 2012.

Human rights groups say a total of 80 people have been killed in the unrest in Bahrain since February 2011.