Organisers confident after Ecclestone praise

FORMULA One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has offered a glowing endorsement of the Australian Grand Prix, giving local organisers confidence its future will extend beyond the life of the current contract.

Mr Ecclestone had issued an ultimatum earlier this month, threatening to take it away from Melbourne if it was not run at a time more suitable to European television audiences.

Mr Ecclestone said Europeans should not be asked to wake up early to watch a race in Australia.

But Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker said he was confident a compromise was at hand.

“Mr Ecclestone congratulated all of the teams and all of our staff for putting on what is another great grand prix for the rest of the world,” Mr Walker said.

“He said the spectacle today because of the racing conditions was second-to-none, better than many, many years in the past.”

Mr Walker said he had spoken to Mr Ecclestone, who watched the race from his home in London, soon after the chequered flag fell to mark Englishman Lewis Hamilton’s victory.

“He’s wished us all the best for the future, so what better endorsement could you have,” he said.

As a compromise that is hoped to placate Mr Ecclestone and provide greater convenience for sleepy Europeans, next year’s grand prix will start at 5pm, 90 minutes later than today’s event.

Mr Walker said he was confident the proposal would satisfy all parties.

“Mr Ecclestone is the most successful sports promoter on earth,” Mr Walker said.

“He’s been a friend of mine for more than 20 years and I understand the way he thinks.

“We’re not far off a compromise.”

Victorian Premier John Brumby said he would do whatever he could to secure the grand prix for Melbourne after the current contract expires in 2010.

“I’ve made it clear we want to keep this event. We will do whatever is fair and reasonable,” Mr Brumby said.

“By spring of this year we’ll have a firm decision on the future of the grand prix.”

The premier said more than 300,000 people attended the five days of the grand prix, with an estimated 108,000 coming through the gates today.

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Orlando Motors Sport üzerinde şu anda okumakta olduğunuz 'Organisers confident after Ecclestone praise' isimli yazı 18 Mar 2008 tarihinde, saat: 02:26 'de admin tarafından gönderilmiş.

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