Planet-F1

Melbourne secures new F1 deal

Friday 4th July 2008

Melbourne is set to keep the Australian GP until 2015 after signing a contract extension with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, according to officials.

Australia's place on the F1 calendar had been on the line after Ecclestone insisted on the race switching to a night event in order to become more European time zone friendly.

However, given that the event has been costing the state of Victoria officials opposed to the idea as the necessary lighting would cost too much.

Reaching a compromise, though, the organisers and Ecclestone have now signed a new deal that will the race become a twilight event starting 90 minutes later at 5:00 pm (0600 GMT) from next year onwards.

"The Grand Prix has been an outstanding event for Victoria over a long period of time and has helped put Melbourne on a global stage. Retaining the event is important to Victoria's ongoing growth and prosperity," said Victorian Premier John Brumby.

"Our year-round calendar of sporting and cultural events draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to our wonderful city every year.

"The massive television exposure that Melbourne receives year in, year out has helped build our worldwide reputation as a great place to visit and a great place to live.

"Next year's later start time will mean even greater TV audiences in the United Kingdom, Asia and European markets which means more exposure for brand 'Melbourne' than ever before."

Ecclestone is also delighted with the new arrangement, claiming that a later start time will help boost television audience figures.

"I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia," he

"I'm satisfied that the decision to move to a later start time for 2009 races is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole."

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