Despite considerable doubt over its place on the F1 calendar in recent months, it would appear that the future of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has been saved. In a surprising turnaround, it seems a deal has been struck that will keep both Melbourne and the Australian Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar for at least the next seven years.
According to the Sunday Herald Sun deal to retain the Australian Grand Prix will be agreed within days, extending the contract to host the race around Albert Park to 2015.
A verbal agreement has allegedly been reached, with a senior source in Victoria’s government confirming that the event will remain in Melbourne and revealing an announcement is ‘imminent’, adding: “We haven’t signed the deal but we’re going to quite soon.”]
The deal is expected to include a move to later race start times — probably about 5pm local time — to attract a wider European television audience. Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding re-iterated that a night race remained 100 per cent out of the question.
“We have ruled out a night grand prix and that is not negotiable,” he stressed. “This is a good event for the state. It’s one we want to keep, and we’ll be working hard to ensure that it does remain here in Melbourne in the years ahead.”
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F1Wolf wrote,
does not sound too realistic - if they start at 5 pm, all they need is a cloudy day few safety cars and the race will in dark …
Link | June 16th, 2008 at 5:08 am
peterg wrote,
Wolf, I thought the exact same thing, even with daylight savings, to be finishing a race around 6:40pm-7pm is crazy. Even more so with your predicted safety car. Let’s say they have start line shunt & it takes a half hour to clear…they will be driving in the dark! I can recall plenty of times when the Melbourne race has had to run under a safety.
Have a look at the video of the podium at any Australian GP & you will see the shadows lengthening……& that’s around 4.30-5.00pm.
Link | June 16th, 2008 at 8:33 am