Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker has hit back angrily at claims the country could be set to lose the race after its contract expires in 2010, dismissing
Bernie Ecclestone's criticism that the traditional season curtain-raiser is no longer a popular event with teams or sponsors as a ‘storm in a tea-cup'.
The
Formula 1 ringmaster blasted the race as not financially viable, having made a significant loss of almost $35 million AUD in 2007, and he slammed Victoria premier John Brumby for affording the event precious little support. Last year Brumby cast doubt on the future of the grand prix, saying it could become too expensive should licence fees continue to rise.
“I don't agree with that at all,” Walker is quoted as having told
Australian Associated Press. “I speak to the teams regularly and they love coming to Melbourne; everybody loves coming to Melbourne. The premier has been a great supporter of it, even in opposition.
“When you look at other grands prix around the world in China, Dubai [sic] and Malaysia, they don't get anything like the attendances we get in Melbourne. This will just blow over and negotiations will take place in a normal fashion.”
With the event forecast to lose a further $40 million AUD in 2008, Ecclestone has said the only option for Melbourne if it wishes to retain the grand prix would be to make it into a night race – like the one to be held in Singapore in September – in an attempt to cash in on a better timeslot for European TV audiences. That move – at an estimated cost of $60 million AUD to taxpayers – has been ruled out by Australian motor racing chiefs, who instead elected to push the start of the race back from 2pm to 3:30pm local time.
“I think that compromise has been well accepted by Mr Ecclestone,” Walker underlined, “but at the same time I think this is just his first shot over the bow in his negotiations with the government on the renewal of the contract. Bernie is a great guy but also a very shrewd businessman.
