Ecclestone repeats threat to Oz GP

Ecclestone repeats threat to Oz GP
by Niamh O'Mahony, 09 March 2008

Bernie Ecclestone has once again heaped pressure on organisers of the Australian Grand Prix, after declaring that the race must be run at more Europe-friendly hours.

For Melbourne it would mean running a race at night, something that the event's organisers and the local government in Victoria are against.

However, Formula 1's commercial rights' holder, Bernie Ecclestone, has repeated his stance on the matter, stating that he will simply not renew the Australian GP's contract in 2010.
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"The only way the race could stay in Melbourne, or anywhere else in Australia, is if it is staged during the night so that the public in Europe can watch it," Ecclestone told The Mail of Sunday.

"At the moment, it is ridiculous that people are asked not to sleep in order to see it live. That can't carry on. The alternative is to pull the race completely from Australia.

"I've spoken to [Australian Prime Minister] Kevin Rudd and he's told me it would cost too much to re-stage the race, so I guess that's it. We won't be going to Australia for too much longer."

Australia has had a race in the F1 world championship since 1985 and has hosted the opening round of the championship every year - except 2006 - since its move from Adelaide in 1996.

source: setantasports.com