Night race or no race - Ecclestone

During a conversation with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, said that his country will not host a night race. Ecclestone has once again declared that the only way the Australian GP can stay on the calendar is if it is staged during the night.

Bernie Ecclestone declared in the 'Daily Mail' newspaper: “I've spoken to 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.”

The race promoters of the Australian GP, the AGPC, and the Victorian state government earlier stated that they will not organise a night race at their own expense.

“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. 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,” Ecclestone added.