Ecclestone: Night race or we'll move Melbourne GP

Formula One head Bernie Ecclestone has again cast doubt on the long-term future of the Australian Grand Prix by repeating his call for the event to shift to a night race.
Claiming that the Australian Grand Prix is the "least viable" of all the F1 races, Ecclestone has stated that unless Melbourne introduces a night race it will be scrubbed from the calendar after the contract expires in 2015.
Ecclestone, the sport's commercial rights-holder, told media at the end of last week "we have a contract which we will respect - so up until 2015 we are in good shape
"After then, we really don't know. If we were to have a divorce from ... Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia. Because I can't see how Adelaide could make it happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can't."
As he has previously indicated, the ageing F1 supremo said countries were lining up to replace Australia on the calendar and only a night race - so it could be broadcast in Europe in the afternoon instead of early morning, would save it.
Ecclestone added "we have other races ready to take the place of Australia - which we don't want to happen - but it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board, 'Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia'."
Ecclestone has long sought to push this time back to make the event more attractive for European television audiences. Event organisers in Melbourne have resisted the call for change due to cost and environmental pressures, but Ecclestone looks to be firm in his goal to drop the race if changes are not made.
Meanwhile Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu has backed away from comments he made in opposition about how much Victorians should be prepared to spend to keep the grand prix in Melbourne.
This year's event, which is in two weeks, is expected to cost Victorian taxpayers $55 million.
In 1996, when Jeff Kennett poached the race from Adelaide, it cost taxpayers $1.7 million.
As opposition leader, Premier Baillieu said in 2010 that when the race reached "a $50 million deficit last year, it's reaching a stage where it's a real worry. We would certainly be looking for the grand prix to improve its performance before 2015 if it is going to survive."
Asked recently about the burgeoning price tag to run the race, Premier Baillieu said "I didn't say that ($50 million) was the price tag. I said it was a significant cost and we would be seeking to reduce costs."
Attempts by the Baillieu Ministry to rein in the cost of the event since they won office have been unsuccessful.
On a positive note, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has announced that it is continuing its longstanding relationship with Qantas, with the airline confirmed as naming rights and official airline partner for the 2012 Formula 1ï¾ Qantas Australian Grand Prix.
The Australian GP will open the 2012 F1 season on 18th March.

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