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Tag Archive | "Australian Grand Prix"
MELBOURNE’S GP ON BORROWED TIME ?
Melbourne's Formula One Grand Prix looks to be on borrowed time with calls by the City's Lord Mayor to axe the race once it's contract is up in 2014. Writing in the top selling Australian newspaper The Herald-Sun, Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the Grand Prix had run it's race. "...it has been 20 fantastic years, the benefits to the city and the state have been enormous, but the cycle has run its course." he said. "In the end, it will be a government decision and one of the tough ones that Ted Baillieu faces in his first term. Does he undo the legacy of Jeff Kennett, his mentor, in his very first term and, ironically, through the same minister to first get the event, Louise Asher? My judgement would be: Get ready. Time's up."
Continue reading...FULL FIELD EXPECTED FOR CARRERA CUP
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The 2011 Carrera Cup will have a full field of cars for the series according to Porsche Cars Australia. A surge of interest over the last 48 hours in the lead up to Christmas has resulted in well over half the grid now committed for the much-anticipated return of the seven round series which kicks [...]
Continue reading...WALKER WARNS CAMS ON AUSTRALIAN GP
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Australian Grand Prix is again under threat over an argument involving fees paid to the sport's Australian National Sporting Association (ASN) CAMS. Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker has called on CAMS to drop its' organising fee for the event, said to be around $800'000 AUD. In a remarkable display of pots describing kettles as less than pristine, Walker has accused CAMS of holding the event to ransom. Mr Walker said that CAMS was a monopoly and demanded that services supplied by CAMS be put out to tenderm a request backed up by acting CEO for the event Andrew Westacott. “The AGPC contract with CAMS has expired. Any new contract entered into by AGPC is reviewed to ensure the scope of works and services provided are competitively costed and any cost savings are delivered. CAMS have been invited to submit a proposal for the supply of the services relating to the role of race organiser at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. “ CAMS is Australia's FIA approved ASN and are responsible for providing flag marshals, scrutineers, and other volunteers essential to the safe running of the Grand Prix.
Continue reading...MEMO TO BERNIE: TAKE YOUR RACE AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR…
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The choice of holding the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in the modern era has always been a controversial one; since Jeff Kennett sensationally (or infamously, according to South Australians) announced in late 1993 that a deal has been concluded with Bernie Ecclestone to host the race in Melbourne’s Albert Park from 1996 onwards. Even before a wheel was turned there was already strong opposition to the Grand Prix by environmentalists and the “Save Albert Park” movement; local residents and the usual NIMBY’s affected by the construction of the track and the annual build up and tear down of fencing and facilities before and after each event. To add more fuel to the fire of opposition to the Grand Prix, the Victorian State government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is attracting the ire of ordinary residents and taxpayers of Victoria by posting a bigger loss to the Formula 1 Grand Prix each year since 1996. It has been announced recently that the 2010 event has lost $49.2 million dollars, which means, by my calculations, that over the past five years, the Australian Grand Prix has lost a total of more than $185 million dollars. That same $185 million dollars could be very well used in building desperately needed road, public transport or health infrastructure or to fund proper education of Victorian youths. Instead, taxpayers of the state of Victoria, have to line the pockets of one of the richest men in the world for the right to a frivolous activity and to pay the imbeciles who supposedly run it.
Continue reading...AUSTRALIAN GP GOING NOWHERE: Well not to Calder anyway
Thursday, September 23, 2010
There will be no move of the Australian Grand Prix to Melbourne’s Calder Park despite ludicrous mainstream media speculation. Local media was awash with reports that a heads of agreement signed between Calder Park, CAMS and the Victorian State Government could see the race moved to Calder from it’s current location at Albert Park. The agreement says [...]
Continue reading...POLICE TO CHARGE “HOON” HAMILTON
Saturday, March 27, 2010
2008 World Champion Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has become a victim of the Victorian Government's Anti-Hoon laws after he was pulled over by Victorian Police last night. Hamilton was leaving the Albert Park circuit when he allegedly did a burnout in his road going Mercedes. In a statement issued by McLaren late last night Hamilton said: "This evening, I was driving in an over-exuberant manner and, as a result, was stopped by the police. "What I did was silly, and I want to apologise for it."
Continue reading...F1: PINNACLE OR RIDICULE ?
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Formula 1 circus has once again returned to Melbourne for the annual Australian Grand. Amidst the controversy of the processional previous race of Bahrain as well as the poor organization and lack of performance of the new teams, I’m thankful that I am no longer a fan to what is supposed to be the pinnacle of motor racing. Unlike previous years when I was living and breathing Formula 1, where I would be literally stalking drivers and know first hand when and where they will make appearances. I no longer have any feelings for any of this; and given how poorly Formula 1 at large continues to treat its fans, I would not at all be surprised if a queue of dissatisfied former Formula 1 fans forms behind me from all over the world. I am at a loss to understand a sport which requires a “working group” to encourage and manufacture an on track action called “overtaking”. It is beyond ridiculous that such a basic action of the sport has to be encouraged or manufactured by a committee for it to actually happen in the arena. Matters are not helped either by today’s Formula 1 drivers.
Continue reading...MELBOURNE TO LOSE F1 OPENING RACE ?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Melbourne's traditional place as the opening round of the World Formula One Championship may be under threat with Bahrain rumoured to replace the Victorian capital as the season opener. According to SpeedTV.com & Autosport, team bosses have been shown a provisional calendar for 2010 in which Melbourne becomes the second round of the season. Melbourne GP boss Ron Walker has always put great value on Melbourne opening the season, often claiming his "special" relationship with Bernie Ecclestone would ensure the Australian race the prestigious first round. Media Spokesperson for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation Laura McLachlan said that the Corporation had no comment to make at this stage "until the FIA releases the official calendar"
Continue reading...FIA RESPONDS TO FOTA THREAT: SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO…
Friday, June 19, 2009
The FIA have released a terse press release in response to the announcement that FOTA teams including Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP would stage a rival Formula One series in 2010. The simple 110 word statement reads: The FIA has noted the latest press statement from FOTA. The FIA is disappointed but not surprised by FOTA’s inability to reach a compromise in the best interests of the sport. It is clear that elements within FOTA have sought this outcome throughout the prolonged period of negotiation and have not engaged in the discussions in good faith. The FIA cannot permit a financial arms race in the Championship nor can the FIA allow FOTA to dictate the rules of Formula One. The deadline for unconditional entries to the 2010 FIA Formula World Championship will expire this evening. The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship entry list will be announced tomorrow. Meanwhile here in beautiful GirtbySea, Victorian tourism and special events apologist Tim Holding has announced to an eager and bewildered mainstream media that the Albert Park GP will go ahead as planned no matter what happens in Europe. Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the contract with Mr Ecclestone ensures a Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place every year up until 2015. "This is part of the pushing and shoving that Formula 1 is well known for,'' Mr Holding said. Speaking to the Murdoch media owned Herald Sun Holding said "We know these negotiations will continue and we also know that we will get a good outcome. Let's give the negotiations that are currently underway an opportunity to run their course.'' Mr Holding left the media conference on his magical flying carpet to return to Asgard.
Continue reading...BUTTON WINS, MELBOURNE MEDIA LOSES
Monday, March 30, 2009
The sensational win by Jenson Button of the Australian Grand Prix has reinvigorated the sport. The team formally known as Honda faced extinction only six weeks ago and yesterday in front of over 105'000 people the new Brawn GP team dominated as Button led team-mate Rubens Barrichello home in a Brawn Mercedes 1-2. Toyota's Timo Glock crossed the line in third but was later penalised for passing under a yellow flag giving reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton the final podium spot. Local hero Mark Webber again had a dire home GP after tangling with Barrichello into turn one forcing him into the pits and well out of contention. After the race an emotional Webber couldn't hide his intense disappointment. "For all the fans to come and watch today, I wanted a good result for many reasons today." Drivers were critical of the race's new start time with glare from the setting sun causing problems for several drivers including the winner. It was really difficult, you know a few of the corners, it's strange for such an open circuit you could not see the exit of the corners at all," he said. "I used a visor that was slightly tinted and that was the correct thing to do, but with the glare from the sun and the change in light from the trees it was so, so difficult - so easy to put a wheel wrong." Toro Roso driver Sebastian Bourdais was one of the most vocal critics "We do half of a lap with the sun in your eyes," he said. "It's not the most enjoyable racing. Visibility is quite poor. Turn one is difficult, turn three is difficult. The shade from the trees makes it tough to get your eyes accustomed." Despite the current economic crisis and a clash with the local AFL football ( a regional curiosity much loved by the simple folk) crowds were down only about 16'000 overall. The race day crowd of 105'000 was only 3000 down on last year yet the Melbourne mainstream media have seized upon the downturn as a clear sign that the GP has passed it's use by date and that it should be shut down. Led by the taxpayer funded ABC, who launched into a tirade of the evils of taxpayer funding, and the inner-city broadsheet The Age, the football dominated Melbourne media spent most of the weekend trying to find any reason real or imagined to attack the race. Well known and respected football journalist Caroline Wilson was totally dismissive of the event when it came to discussion on the myopic ABC gabfest "The Outsiders"
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