Jul 4, 2008 - 7:08 AM
0 shoutsMELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) -- The Australian Grand Prix will remain at Albert Park until at least 2015, with the race due to become a twilight fixture.
Victorian Premier John Brumby made the announcement on Friday, saying the Government had agreed to delay the start of the race until 5 p.m. local time in order to secure the event for the next seven years, although no artificial lighting will be used for the term of the contract.
Mr. Brumby said the Grand Prix was the jewel in Melbourne's major events strategy and delivered substantial economic and tourism benefits to the state.
"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," he said. "Retaining the event is important to Victoria's ongoing growth and prosperity. ... 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."
More than 300,000 people attended the four-day event this year with an estimated 100 million television viewers worldwide.
The 2008 race was pushed back from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. local time in a bid to increase the overseas TV audience.
The race had been in danger of being axed at the end of the current contract in 2010 with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone pushing to move it under lights.
But he said he was now 'satisfied' with the 5 p.m. start time.
"I have wanted changes to the local race time so that we can increase the television audience in Europe and Asia," Ecclestone said in a statement. "I'm satisfied that the decision to move to (a) later start time for 2009 is a win for television audiences in Europe and Asia, a win for Melbourne and a win for Formula One as a whole."
Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Ron Walker was also pleased with the outcome.
"Formula One is good for Melbourne and Melbourne is good for Formula One," he said. "The team at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation will get on with what it does best - putting on a world-class show every March at Albert Park."
