Study touts Aus GP venue alternative
Headed by Linfox, an Australian transport company, the $200m venue would be capable of hosting the grand prix away from Albert Park, south of Melbourne.
The track would be located at Avalon airport, a 45-minute drive from the city. Avalon is operated by Linfox.
The Victorian state government's support of the loss-making Australian grand prix is controversial, and Linfox director Andrew Fox said Avalon would be a cheaper alternative.
"If the Government could extend the agreement with Bernie Ecclestone then we believe we can justify a new facility of an F1 standard — world's best practice — at Avalon," he is quoted as saying by the local Herald Sun.
Fox said a permanent facility would cost less to prepare each year and that it "would be wrong of the government not to address something that might be of less expense for the taxpayer".
The Albert Park contract is set to run until 2015. Linfox has not held any talks with the government, and a spokesman said moving the race is not under consideration.