Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and Australian Grand Prix organisers are down undre for the 2008 showdown of the Melbourne Grand Prix. The future of the race down under is however, at stake.
The start time of the season first race has been pushed back to 0430 GMT this weekend and could start 90 minutes later (0600 GMT) in 2009.
But Ecclestone, who prefers a night race to satisfy European television audience, is unimpressed with the compromise.
“That’s not what we’re looking for. It needs to be a night race,” he said. “It would be nice if the race was on at midday or 2pm for European audiences, but I guess that would mean it starting in the middle of the night in Australia.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker said it would be impossible to stage a night race as the existing venue at Albert Park, on the fringes of downtown Melbourne, could not accommodate it.
“We’ve got 300 hectares of land here,” said Walker.”It’s just not lighting the track here, it’s lighting the whole park to protect our patrons.” The Melbourne race is also losing money. The 2007 event cost Australian taxpayers 35m Australian dollars (£16m) and A$40m (£18m) is expected to be spent on this weekend’s race.
It leaves the future of the Australian Grand Prix, which has three years remaining on its contract, in doubt.

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