Australian F1 could be axed

[wrk]

Nov.1 (GMM) 24 hours after escalating losses were revealed, the state government has refused to rule out abandoning Melbourne's Australian grand prix.

Victorian premier John Brumby, who inherited the race from his predecessor Steve Bracks, questions whether an event that loses $34 million annually is "good value for money".

Negotiations with F1 officials will need to begin shortly if the government wants to retain the race beyond 2010.

"I think the two tests post-2010 (are) firstly, does it remain a good event for the state, and secondly, can we secure good value for money?" Brumby said outside parliament, according to the Herald Sun newspaper.

He added to ABC Radio: "So that's the test and we will be examining these things in much more detail next year."

The Albert Park event was already under pressure, with Australian grand prix chief Ron Walker jetting to London on Wednesday to ratify plans for a more Europe-friendly 2008 start time of 3.30pm.

Former premier Jeff Kennett, who successfully campaigned to transfer the Australian grand prix from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1996, said he believes the current government is manoeuvring the axe the race.

"My bet will be that the Labor government will renege on this contract in 2010," he told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

Then in todays new there was a report that the Queensland Govt have been having talks with the powers to be in F1 to bring it to Surfers Paradise , the same track that we host a round of the champ car series on.

F1 in my own back yard.......bring it on....

[modbaraban]

....F1 to bring it to Surfers Paradise , the same track that we host a round of the champ car series on.

F1 in my own back yard.......bring it on....

Really fun track, but it looks too dangerous for F1. Esp. the the places where you have to do S-es sweeping left and right avoiding the walls facing you at 90 deg. angle.

[wrk]

cant be any worst than monaco..??

[Belatti]

I know surfers paradise track from PC simulator and its quite good.
Dangerous?
Well, its a dangerous sport.

[modbaraban]

cant be any worst than monaco..??

The speeds would be much higher ...unless they gonna Tilke it up.

[freedom_honda]

it would be AWESOME to having Aus GP in surfer paradise because its only like 30 mins away from where i live

[Tom]

I've been half watching the V8 supercars and I have to say all the Australian race track are pretty sorrid affairs. But the street circuits, oh baby.

Melbourne is a great track and so was Adelaide before it, the whole attitude of the fans is brilliant, every driver says so, and its a part of the world F1 really needs to be in, if only to relax from the politics and strife and watch some great racing.

I've seen Surfers Paradise in Champ Cars and V8s, it always seems to be an accident filled event but then again so do most of those series street races. I doubt it can ever be more dangerous than Adelaide was, but you have to think back to Canada in reacent years and realise going that fast in an enclosed area is a huge risk.

Melbourne, which I class as a street circuit, has seen some stunning racing and its just a shame that hasn't reflected in profits.

Where ever it goes I'm going to make sure I get out there one day and watch.

[SZ]

I've been half watching the V8 supercars and I have to say all the Australian race track are pretty sorrid affairs. But the street circuits, oh baby.

Melbourne is a great track and so was Adelaide before it, the whole attitude of the fans is brilliant, every driver says so, and its a part of the world F1 really needs to be in, if only to relax from the politics and strife and watch some great racing.

I've seen Surfers Paradise in Champ Cars and V8s, it always seems to be an accident filled event but then again so do most of those series street races. I doubt it can ever be more dangerous than Adelaide was, but you have to think back to Canada in reacent years and realise going that fast in an enclosed area is a huge risk.

Melbourne, which I class as a street circuit, has seen some stunning racing and its just a shame that hasn't reflected in profits.

Where ever it goes I'm going to make sure I get out there one day and watch.

Wrong. Philip Island Raceway is world class - definately a rider's favorite on MotoGP and SBK calenders. They're two great events. And it's great for a ride day too.

Bernie hasn't wanted the Melbourne GP for a while. Asking it to do night racing - the impossible in this city - didn't leave it many options, and many here believe that to be intentions.

Could be surfers' paradise next but i'd not be surprised to see the GP leave australia altogether.

[HKS]

Yes Australian even the US grand prix

Btw do they have US GP in the list for 2008?

[johny]

No USGP in 2008

[naknak_56]

And thank god for that Indy sucked, would love to see a USGP but at another track as there are some fantastic tracks there.

[wrk]

freedom_honda, where are you.......nerang here

[ds.raikkonen]

Well, im not exactly a fan of albert park, but i feel that the circuit is a bit dangerous, owing to its greenness due to only one race being held in an year. secondly, there are very few o.t. opportunities, which makes it a boring race track. Even though the drivers are constantly working on the steering wheel, the race is pretty dull.

[freedom_honda]

freedom_honda, where are you.......nerang here

South of Brisbane.
Calamvale (its like 15mins away from Sunnybank )

[wrk]

Nov.7 (GMM) Organisers of the Australian grand prix in Melbourne are secretly contemplating moving the race from Albert Park to a famous nearby horse racing venue to save money, according to a media source.

The commercial television station 'Nine' said the plan, following revelations that the cost of the current temporary street venue south of Melbourne is worsening every year, could save the Victorian government up to $20 million annually.

The venue under discussion is Flemington Racecourse, which on Tuesday staged the world-famous horse race the Melbourne Cup.

The local Nine Network said the plan was discussed last week between race promoter Ron Walker, who travelled to London, and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

So secret were the plans, Nine claims, that the state government or the Victoria (horse) Racing Club had not considered the proposal.

Melbourne's current grand prix contract runs until 2010.