Melbourne to host Formula One Grand Prix until 2015

Victorian Premier, John Brumby and his Events team have struck a deal that will see Melbourne continue hosting a Formula One Grand Prix until 2015. Controversy over a full night time race appears to have been shelved, for now, with plans for the Melbourne race to start at 5pm for the next seven years. “It’s a five o’clock start. We’ve said that we would not support a night race, and we’ve held firm in that position,” Brumby said.

President of Formula One Management, Mr Bernie Ecclestone, said he was delighted the Grand Prix was continuing in Melbourne. “The Australian Grand Prix has always been a great show, with some of the biggest crowds in Formula One,” he said.

The crucial factor for Melbourne, or any Australian Grand Prix, has always been the early morning start for European television audiences, and it is understood negotiations for this new deal were intensive. Ecclestone commented, “I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia. I’m satisfied that the decision to move to later start time for 2009 races is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole.”

The Events Minister, Tim Holding, says “These are extraordinarily competitive events right around the world. We know there are plenty of other cities, plenty of other locations that would love to hold an event of this stature of the Grand Prix, and we’re thrilled we’ve been able to secure the event.”

Predictably, the evergreen Save Albert Park lobby is not amused, with President Peter Goad stating, “The decision contradicts all rational thinking. It is wrong politically, financially, economically and environmentally. This Government is putting an event in the park which is the absolute antithesis of our responsible attitude to climate change.”

Source: ABC News and GrandPrix.com.au (Thanks to Michael for the images.)