Formula One Australian Grand Prix - Melbourne

The ING Australian Grand Prix is a Formula One race that is part of the annual Formula One championship season. It is held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne. The event was held annually since 1928 at various venues in Australia, before it became part of the Formula One championship in 1985. The race was held at the Adelaide Street Circuit in Adelaide from 1985 to 1995, before moving to Melbourne in 1996.

The Australian Grand Prix is the first round of the Championship, having been the first race of each year, excluding 2006, since the event moved to Melbourne. During its years in Adelaide, the Australian Grand Prix was the final round of the Championship, replacing the Portuguese Grand Prix in that respect. As the final round of the season, the Grand Prix hosted a handful of memorable Grand Prix, most notably the 1986 and 1994 event which saw those respective titles decided.

In terms of Grand Prix victories, Michael Schumacher and McLaren are the most successful driver and team respectively. After Michael Schumacher's retirement, David Coulthard, Rubens Barrichello and Giancarlo Fisichella will be the only drivers to have started every single Melbourne race.

In November 2006 ING became the naming rights sponsor of the Australian Grand Prix in a three-year deal. -- source www.wikipedia.org

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2008 Australian GP moved back

Written by premalshah on

Linked from http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40151
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The Australian Grand Prix is to relinquish its traditional position as Formula 1's season opener for the second time in three years in 2008 - and will not become a night race, as had been mooted.

Next season's Melbourne race will take place in mid-March, and is expected to be the second event on the world championship calendar, subject to FIA approval.

The GP organisers have also decided not to turn the event into a night race next year, but the start time will be put back by 90 minutes in an effort to lessen the impact of the time difference for European television viewers.

Melbourne had been urged to consider becoming a night event, as part of Bernie Ecclestone's push to ensure that the European audience could watch the Australasian races at hospitable times.

But Australian GP chairman Ron Walker said moving the race to the evening was not viable at present.

“Our investigations have convinced us that as things currently stand, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages,” Mr Walker said.

“Instead, we have decided to run the F1 race later on Sunday, moving the start time from 2pm to 3.30pm.

"We need to ensure all of our partners are comfortable with this and we’re working through that process now.

“Going later will benefit fans at Albert Park who will enjoy an even bigger day of entertainment and people watching the race live in other parts of the world, especially Europe where fans will be able to get up closer to breakfast time.”

Under this plan, the race would begin at 4.30am UK time rather than the present 3am.

The date change is to avoid clashes with other sporting events in Melbourne, and to allow the V8 Supercars - Australia's premier domestic motor racing championship - to rejoin the GP bill.

Some in the local media had suggested that the absence of the V8s on this year's Melbourne schedule had adversely affected the crowd figures.

“Taking all factors into account, this is the best option for our event and the people who support it,” Walker said.

The Bahrain GP is expected to become the season-opener in Melbourne's place, as it did in 2006 - the only previous occasion when the Albert Park has occupied a later date on the schedule - although the event's CEO Martin Whitaker said this was only "speculation" until the official FIA calendar was released.

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