Sepang to open ’06 season

(GMMF1.NET) Australia is likely to shake-up next year's F1 calendar. Melbourne's 'Grand Prix Corporation' chairman Ron Walker said he'd shortly travel to London to meet with Bernie Ecclestone and request a date change for the 2006 event. Unlike since 1996, Walker – to avert a clash with the Melbourne Commonwealth Games – wants to give up the season-opening slot for a late-April date.

''It's not going to bother us,'' Walker told Australian media. ''It may bother them … '' Ron hinted that Malaysia's round could be promoted to the opening spot for one year. A football spokesman, meanwhile, admitted that the 'AFL' might adjourn Melbourne-based games between April 28-30, to subsequently avert their own clash.