The manager of the Australian GP throws in the towel…

The boss of the Australian Grand Prix, Ron Walker, acknowledges that the future of the Melbourne race is no longer in his hands as Bernie Ecclestone continues to apply strong pressure to turn it into a night race.

He stated that the Albert Park event will need to take place at night if the organizers hope to see an extension of their contract, which expires in 2010.

The final decision will undoubtedly take the form of a compromise between Ecclestone and the region of Victoria, which subsidizes the event. The current feeling is based on costs being too high.

« The decision rests solely with the prime minister, it will be made, no doubt, in the next six to nine months. He will have talks with Mr. Ecclestone. Either an arrangement will be found, or the situation will become worrying, » said Mr. Walker to the Herald Sun.

« It will be a sad day for Australia if we were to lose the Grand Prix, as it is the only international motorsport event that takes place in the country. »

« When you think about the number of other countries that want a F1 race, it would be a great loss. It offers a spectacle that you don’t see very often, but which is unique to the country. »

The government of Victoria must, of course, decide whether to accept the requirements of a night race or not, but beyond that, it must also consider whether to continue funding the Grand Prix.

The current cost for organizing the event is estimated at about 35 million dollars per year.