Organisers of the Australian Grand Prix hope to have secured the future of the event after agreeing a compromise plan for the race start time after demands from Bernie Ecclestone to stage the race at night.
Ecclestone has been pushing for the race, the season curtain-raiser, to be pushed back in the interest of European TV viewers. Initially, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation resisted any such move, citing cost concerns.
But a compromise has been reached under which the start has now been pushed back 90 minutes to 3.30pm local time, (0430 GMT) and if the move proves successful in increasing European TV ratings, the race will be pushed back a further 90 minutes to 5pm (0600 GMT) for 2009.
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