Sydney the next destination for F1 drivers?

With Bernie Ecclestone reluctant to accept Melbourne circuit’s offers to hold its race at 5 p.m. next year to avoid becoming a night-time event, Sydney has stepped in to express its interest in hosting this type of Grand Prix.

Albert Park has a contract until 2010, but the head of F1 said that unless the race starts at night, it would not be renewed. Government officials from the state of Victoria have reiterated that they are against a night race.

It is now the state of New South Wales, through its Premier Morris Iemma, offering an alternative by revealing that Sydney would be ready to host this type of event by proceeding with a restructuring of the Eastern Creek track.

« We are interested, » stated Iemma for the Australian magazine Auto Action.

« This race could be held on a circuit like Eastern Creek, with a few modifications. If Formula 1 is looking for a night Grand Prix in Australia, Eastern Creek could do the job! »

« We have at our disposal a track that can be updated and modified to meet the needs of Formula 1 and motorsport fans, » he commented.

« If this project were to materialize, we could create two to three thousand jobs. We have invested a lot in this circuit in the past, and we will continue to do so in the future, if necessary… »

« We will be able to invest 85 million dollars over three years. This will be one of the biggest events of the year for the city of Sydney. There is no reason why this car race shouldn’t be part of one of our major events in our annual calendar. »