Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt over the future of the Australian rand Prix saying unless organisers can make the race a night-time event down under, then it could all be over once the current contract expires in 2010.

"The only way the race could stay in Melbourne, or anywhere in Australia is if it is staged during the night so that the public in Europe can watch it," Ecclestone told the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

Pressure groups already opposed to any Grand Prix in Albert Park are fuighting hard to prevent a night race and organisers are concerned by the costs of lighting.

"At the moment it's ridiculous that people are asked not to sleep in order to watch it live, that can't carry on," he added. "The alternative is to pull the race completely from Australia and I've spoken to Prime Minister Rudd and he's told me it would cost too much to move the race, so I guess that's it - we won't be going to Australia too much longer."

Source: GP Update

Personaly i dont care... i dont think Australia deserves a GP... mainly for the reason the media here treats us aussie F1 fans and idiots.... the ONLY race we get live in the Aus GP every iother GP is on 2-4hours after the race has started... oh sorry we will get the Canadian GP Live only cause its live at like 2am our time and thats fine for Ch10.... other wise every other GP is on late at like 11pm 12am or worse when most euro races start at about 9pm our time after a boring movie or even big borther.... god forbid we delay big brother.... oh we do get quailifying on the TV... if ur want to watch it 5hours after its ended.....

so in short i hope we do lose the Aus GP then ch10 might drop rights to show it on TV and fox sports might pick it up and we will get live races.......

Grand prix delayed for European TV

March 10, 2008 THE start time of this Sunday's Formula One grand prix in Melbourne has been put back an hour-and-a-half, and there are plans in place to make it a twilight race next year too.

Melbourne is under pressure to hang onto the event, with the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone wanting the race to be held at night, in a bid to satisfy European televsion requirements.

As a compromise Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker has agreed to start the race at 3.30pm this year, meaning a 5.30am start in Europe. The move is a bid to get higher global television audiences.

If the audience figures improve, then the race will start at 5pm in 2009. Walker says the changes can be made without incurring any additional infrastructure costs.

Source: www.foxsports.com.au

there will still be light at 5pm but the end of the race will b cutting it fine for the light even tho it will b daylight savings time a red flag or anything liek that coudl really throw a spanner in the works....

hahaha sounds awesome they need to put some excitement back into the ACTUAL RACING they could issue each driver with a pocket flashlight just in case it gets dark :D

get some of marc's led's on, they wouldn't add much weight then :cruising:

i get the gut feeling that Bernie Ecclestone would make sure that only Lewis Hamiltons tourch had batteries in it.......

:joker: but good point

Whole new advertising campaign for Duracell, Lewis goes on and on and on, while Bernie gives the rest pound saver batteries :joker: :joker:

:joker: :joker:

I'm sure it's not just Bernie pulling the strings... surely he's just the face of the board?

Or is it really just one person running the show? (sorry, don't mean to sound silly, not really into F1 management)

he IS the man that runs the show he owns the board and everything......

damn that poison dwarf

yeah hes looks like a dawrf next to his 25year old supermodel wife that looks like an Amazon when she stands next to him