Rain hits Melbourne

Heavy downpours have hit Melbourne hours before final practice and qualifying for Formula 1's season-opening Australian GP.

Friday's two practice sessions were bathed in beautiful warm sunshine but the poor weekend weather which had been forecast all week arrived with a vengeance by the time teams and drivers started arriving in the Albert Park paddock on Saturday morning.

The scheduled sportscar support races started as scheduled but cars were soon running behind the Safety Car due to excessive standing water around the Albert Park circuit.