F1 boss calls for late race (Melbourne)
Posted by mortal
FORMULA One boss Bernie Ecclestone wants more - he is demanding Melbourne's F1 Grand Prix race be held even later than its new twilight format.
The billionaire F1 chief is on a collision course with the Victorian Government over the start time of the Australian Grand Prix.
And he says he has renewed talks with Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker about changing the program as early as next year.
Should the Melbourne Grand Prix be held at night? Have your say below
Mr Ecclestone's demands to hold a night race in Melbourne to maximise European television audiences were denied at contract negotiations last year.
The Brumby Government instead agreed to stage a twilight race, pushing back the start of this year's event from 3.30pm to 5pm.
But Mr Ecclestone was yesterday critical of the new time and revealed he was discussing changes with Mr Walker.
"When you say last year was twilight, I don't know how twilight it was," Mr Ecclestone said.
"The later we can get that race, the better it is for us. Ron and I are talking about all these things."
Mr Ecclestone would not elaborate on details of the discussions.
Melbourne has the race until 2015 under a contract signed last July, in which it was agreed future races would run at twilight with no artificial lights.
Singapore has staged a successful night Grand Prix for the past two years, including three days of concerts featuring the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, ZZ Top and Beyonce.
But government spokesman Lyall Johnson last night reiterated Premier John Brumby's declaration this year that the Government's refusal to stage a night race was "non-negotiable".
"We have a firm position on when the race should be held," he said.
"Bernie Ecclestone is well aware of that position and the time of the race will not be moved."
This year's Melbourne Grand Prix attracted 287,000 spectators, down 16,000 on the previous year, and cost taxpayers $40.2 million - the most it had in five years.
Mr Walker said this year's twilight race generated the biggest European audience for an Australian Grand Prix, with almost three times as many people tuning in as last year.
Mr Brumby thrashed out an 11th-hour deal to save Melbourne's Grand Prix last year.
The contract is believed to include a clause that states the race will not be held under any artificial light.
Stolen from news.com.au
[www.mediafire.com] Some say you should click it, you know you want to.
[www.gp4central.com] <----GP4 Central
The billionaire F1 chief is on a collision course with the Victorian Government over the start time of the Australian Grand Prix.
And he says he has renewed talks with Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker about changing the program as early as next year.
Should the Melbourne Grand Prix be held at night? Have your say below
Mr Ecclestone's demands to hold a night race in Melbourne to maximise European television audiences were denied at contract negotiations last year.
The Brumby Government instead agreed to stage a twilight race, pushing back the start of this year's event from 3.30pm to 5pm.
But Mr Ecclestone was yesterday critical of the new time and revealed he was discussing changes with Mr Walker.
"When you say last year was twilight, I don't know how twilight it was," Mr Ecclestone said.
"The later we can get that race, the better it is for us. Ron and I are talking about all these things."
Mr Ecclestone would not elaborate on details of the discussions.
Melbourne has the race until 2015 under a contract signed last July, in which it was agreed future races would run at twilight with no artificial lights.
Singapore has staged a successful night Grand Prix for the past two years, including three days of concerts featuring the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, ZZ Top and Beyonce.
But government spokesman Lyall Johnson last night reiterated Premier John Brumby's declaration this year that the Government's refusal to stage a night race was "non-negotiable".
"We have a firm position on when the race should be held," he said.
"Bernie Ecclestone is well aware of that position and the time of the race will not be moved."
This year's Melbourne Grand Prix attracted 287,000 spectators, down 16,000 on the previous year, and cost taxpayers $40.2 million - the most it had in five years.
Mr Walker said this year's twilight race generated the biggest European audience for an Australian Grand Prix, with almost three times as many people tuning in as last year.
Mr Brumby thrashed out an 11th-hour deal to save Melbourne's Grand Prix last year.
The contract is believed to include a clause that states the race will not be held under any artificial light.
Stolen from news.com.au
[www.mediafire.com] Some say you should click it, you know you want to.
[www.gp4central.com] <----GP4 CentralIt's all about making money. There are no other considerations for him. IMHO that's wrong for F1.
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lol indeed. I find it quite amusing that the guy who insisted on the late starting race, and ignored all the warnings about the weather, should be running to his car to escape that very same rain.
Circuit Thermalito
Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)
Circuit Thermalito
Liverpool Waterfront Circuit (WIP)
Why should he not run to escape the rain? I would find it iroinc if he was complaining about it, but there's nothing unusual or funny about somebody running for shelter in a downpour.
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Please find us on [en.wikipedia.org] for more information.
Locke Cole Wrote:
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> It's all about making money. There are no other
> considerations for him. IMHO that's wrong for F1.
Its always been about money, TV money to be more precise and the potential of selling advertising to a global audience.
I read somewhere ( couldve been F1 Racing) that the biggest viewing figures for F1 are in Europe, makes sense to have the singapore race at night to please the European target audience if it means casual fans wont stay up to watch it.
Im just summising here, but if the viewing figures for the Australian GP arent that great compared with the traditional 1pm sunday european start time then thats the reason.
Cant say i,m bothered either way, part of being an F1 fan for me is the excitement of that opening first race in Melbourne and getting up ridiculously early
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
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> It's all about making money. There are no other
> considerations for him. IMHO that's wrong for F1.
Its always been about money, TV money to be more precise and the potential of selling advertising to a global audience.
I read somewhere ( couldve been F1 Racing) that the biggest viewing figures for F1 are in Europe, makes sense to have the singapore race at night to please the European target audience if it means casual fans wont stay up to watch it.
Im just summising here, but if the viewing figures for the Australian GP arent that great compared with the traditional 1pm sunday european start time then thats the reason.
Cant say i,m bothered either way, part of being an F1 fan for me is the excitement of that opening first race in Melbourne and getting up ridiculously early
LS's Tip of the week
ESSENTIAL OILS aren't essential unless you're an engine, a gearbox or a twat
In my country we see almost every race at 9 AM and Australian GP at 00:00, Japan Gp at 02:00, Malaysian at 03:00 (last time that they ran in Malaysia it started at 05:00 :P), and the only Grand Prix we see at 1 PM is Brazil
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