17/03/2008
NEWS STORY
Victoria state premier John Brumby, who attended yesterday's season opener in Melbourne, has ruled out any chance of a night race in Albert Park, thereby leaving the future of the race very much in doubt.
Last week, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone made it quite clear, either the Melbourne event is held at night or it is dropped from the calendar. Organizers subsequently suggested the event could be staged as late at 17.00 which was still not good enough for Ecclestone, who suggested that ideally the race would be staged at 01.00.
"There won't be a night grand prix," said Brumby, according to AP, adding: "We will take whatever steps are reasonable and whatever steps are practical to keep the event."
He also argued that while Ecclestone is focussing on TV viewers in Europe, the F1 supremo's efforts to take the sport into the eastern hemisphere - where the money is - will lead to a growing audience in that part of the world.
"I think there are going to be a lot of viewers in our time zone," he said. "On Sunday the race went into Europe early in the morning. We will look at other times but there won't be a night grand prix and I don't think we need to hold a night grand prix."
In addition to his demands for a night race, Ecclestone is also asking for more money. This comes at a time when the 2007 race cost taxpayers £16m and the 2008 is predicted to make a £20m loss.