Formula One news

'Evening races will remain' - Ecclestone

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has said that  'twilight' races in the Far East and Australia have boosted television audiences threefold, even though some organisers and drivers questioned the evening races due to fading light levels. 

Issues were first raised over the 5pm starting time in Australia when drivers complained of the lower sun's blinding effect at certain sections of the circuit; their argument was only strengthened with the race-ending monsoon in Malaysia a week later.

"All our TV figures up to now have been up 300 per cent," Formula One Managements's Ecclestone told The Independent. "We have been getting more than 50 per cent of the market share." As well as allowing more local spectators to attend events later in the day, the F1 supremo's key objective was to boost the televisions audience figures, particularly in Europe.

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