No night race for Melbourne

Outgoing Australian Grand Prix chief executive Tim Bamford was on the radio in Melbourne this morning and let slip that there will not be any night racing going on in 2008. There has been speculation that Bernie Ecclestone was trying to get Melbourne to switch to a night race in an effort to improve F1's television viewing figures. This may have suited Ecclestone but was obviously not high on the list of priorities in Melbourne where such an idea would have cost a great deal of additional money, at a time when the losses incurred by the event have been rising and causing criticism. Because the race is supported with public funding there are always critics in Melbourne, although there is little doubt that the race brings a great deal to the city. Grandprix.com