Sydney considers snatching the Australian Grand Prix from Melbourne
Sydney could ultimately seriously consider organizing the Australian F1 Grand Prix, even though Melbourne has a contract until 2020.
As the 2015 Formula 1 season begins at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, the city of Sydney could consider hosting the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix if Mike Baird is re-elected Premier of New South Wales by the end of the month.
Sources close to the project claim that an urban race could boost the city’s economy, especially if the city’s symbols – notably its famous opera house – appear in the background or are included in the race, like the Harbour Bridge.
« I believe we have remained passive for too long and have let Melbourne take all the events it wanted, » said Baird, quoted by GrandPrixTimes.com. The capital of the State of Victoria hosts every year, in addition to the GP, two other global events: the Australian Open of tennis and the Melbourne Cup, a world-renowned horse race.
Mike Baird continued: « We have created our own events, we have boosted the budget, and we want the best events for this city. We will do it based on the economic benefits brought to the State. » Sydney hosted the Summer Olympics in the year 2000. And indeed, Rod McGeoch, who led the successful Sydney bid, could be in charge of designing the layout for a potential Grand Prix.
Ron Walker, at the head of the Australian Grand Prix organization, didn’t fail to remind Baird that Melbourne had a contract with Formula 1 until 2020: [Baird’s] team of advisers misinformed him. We have a contract with Ecclestone until 2020 and we have an option for an additional 5 years… so it will be a long time before Sydney can even consider that, he explained to ABC television.
Melbourne has been hosting the Australian GP since 1996, succeeding Adelaide.
