Formula One news

Ecclestone: No night race, no Australian Grand Prix!

Bernie Ecclestone has said he will pull Formula 1 out of Australia if the organizers of the Grand Prix are not willing to organise the race at night. Discussions with Australia's prime minister failed to break an impasse of the future of the Australian Grand Prix.

Ecclestone is pushing for a night race in Australia in the interests of European television ratings, but the organizers are not willing to change as they believe it is impractical to organise the race at night. It would be too expensive to install temporary lighting each year at Albert Park.

"'The only way the race could stay in Melbourne, or anywhere else in Australia, is if it is staged during the night so that the public in Europe can watch it,'' Ecclestone told Mail on Sunday newspaper.''At the moment it is ridiculous that people are asked not to sleep in order to see it live. That can't carry on. The alternative is to pull the race completely from Australia.''

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker told reporters on Monday he will soon reveal plans to keep Formula One coming to Australia. ''We'll make a press statement this afternoon about a compromise," he said. He was not willing to go into details unfortunately."

Ecclestone was clear on the current situation. ''I've spoken to (Australian prime minister) Kevin Rudd and he's told me it would cost too much to re-stage the race, so I guess that's it,'' Ecclestone said. ''We won't be going to Australia for too much longer.''

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