Formula One eyes Australia’s Eastern Creek circuit
Australia’s Eastern Creek circuit, near Sydney, is the subject of a feasibility study to assess whether it will work as an F1 venue, replacing Melbourne’s Albert Park.
Melbourne’s F1 future is in doubt because of an apparent impasse between the F1 group and the Australian Grand Prix Corp. over the viability of a floodlit race.
Eastern Creek now hosts A1 GP, as well as Australia’s high-profile V8 Supercar series, but it would need substantial investment to obtain the appropriate FIA license.
Australian Grand Prix’s contract to promote the Australian GP in Melbourne expires in 2010, and Bernie Ecclestone insists that an evening start time–to promote a larger live European TV audience–is a precondition for renewal. Australian Grand Prix says that the cost of installing floodlights at Albert Park would be prohibitive.