Australian GP
MELBOURNE, Australia - Event chairman Ron Walker says the future of the Australian Grand Prix is safe, despite reported comments from Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone that the race would be more financially viable elsewhere.
The contract for the 25-year-old Australian race, held first in Adelaide and then in Melbourne since 1996, is up for renewal in 2010. On Sunday, News Limited newspapers quoted Ecclestone as saying the contract might not be renewed.
”Maybe we don’t want to be in Australia,” Ecclestone was quoted as saying. ”Our costs are very high in Australia and we get a lot less money. It’s bloody bad for us.”
Ecclestone said the race would make more money in Russia, India or South Korea, and also said the race should be held at night to attract an American television audience.
”We’ve got quite a few places on the list which would like to have Formula One and as it seems your guy (Victorian state Premier John Brumby) down there doesn’t want Formula One, we can make him happy and make the other people happy.”
Brumby has raised doubts about the race, which has been steadily losing money. This year’s race is scheduled for March 16 on the city’s temporary Albert Park circuit.
Walker said Sunday the race continues to be viable.
”When you look at other Grand Prix around the world in China, Dubai and Malaysia they don’t get anything like the attendances we get in Melbourne,” Walker said.
He described threats that Melbourne could lose the race as a ‘’storm in a teacup.”
”This will just blow over and negotiations will take place in a normal fashion,” he said.
Source: Chairman: Future of Australian GP safe
