No night GP: Brumby

Victorian Premier John Brumby has again ruled out a night Formula One race despite yesterday committing to do “everything possible” to keep the Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Buoyed by a successful 2008 event and strong crowd numbers, Mr Brumby today said he would take “reasonable” and “practical” steps to keep the Melbourne event alive.

Soaring costs and dwindling spectators have jeopardised Melbourne’s bid to keep the race beyond 2011.

And race organisers are resisting an ultimatum from F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to hold a night race to cash in on European television audiences.

The prospect of a 10am race has also been raised.

“We’ll take whatever steps are reasonable and whatever steps are practical to keep the event. We’d like to keep the event, that’s what we want to do - I’ve made no secret of that,” Mr Brumby said today.

“There won’t be a night Grand Prix and I don’t think we need to hold a night Grand Prix.”

Mr Brumby said Asian television audiences were increasing and could overtake Europe as the biggest F1 spectator market in years to come.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of viewers in our timezone. Yesterday - 3.30 start - the race went into Europe early in the morning, we’ll look at other times but there won’t be a night Grand Prix.”

Mr Ecclestone has indicated a 7pm race, with a live TV broadcast beginning at 8am London time, might be suitable.

Opposition leader Ted Baillieu said he supported moving to a later timeslot if it was viable.

“I think we need to look at every option to recast the Grand Prix,” he said.

“Let’s keep it in Melbourne, it’s one of the top four events, but we need to do it differently to keep it fresh.

“I think there’s plenty of things we can do and if there’s capacity to do something at a later hour that would be good.”

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