Ecclestone unlikely to accept Melbourne compromise

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone appears unlikely to accept a compromise proposal of staging next year’s Australian Grand Prix in the early evening.

Ecclestone has long touted for the race in Melbourne to become a night event in order to attract a large television audience across Europe.

In a bid to appease Ecclestone, Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker on Monday suggested there was a possibility of the 2009 race starting at 5pm local time, 6am GMT.

This year’s grand prix on Sunday will start at 3.30pm, 90 minutes later than in previous years, to assess whether there is any merit in an even later start time next year.

With Australia’s contract due to expire after the 2010 grand prix, there will be no shortage of takers willing to fill their vacated slot on the calendar.

“It needs to be a night race,” insisted Ecclestone, speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald and ignoring the legal and logistical hurdles Melbourne faces.

“It (Walker’s plan) doesn’t help a lot. That’s not really what we’re looking for.

“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.

“Obviously, the later it is in Europe the better as far as I am concerned.

“I suppose it is easier getting up at 6am than 3am, so perhaps that’s something, but not what we are really looking for.”