Sydney offers to hold Australian night GP

Albert Park has a contract to hold the F1 race until 2010 but Ecclestone has said that unless the race moves to a night time start, he will not renew it. Victorian Government officials have reiterated they are against a night race.

However, New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has revealed that Sydney would be up for holding a night race at a revamped Eastern Creek track.

"We're certainly interested," Mr Iemma told Australian magazine Auto Action. "We don't know if the race is available or not; it's just been speculation. But if the race is available at some stage we'd certainly be interested.

"It's not a blank cheque but it could be held at a place like Eastern Creek, obviously with modifications. If Formula One is looking for a night race then Eastern Creek can be converted to suit them."

Iemma said the the local government would be more than happy to fund an upgrade of the Eastern Creek facilities to make it F1-spec.

"We've got the track that can be upgraded and modified to meet Formula One's needs and also the needs of motorsport fans," he said.

"There's no issue here with interfering with residents or commercial businesses. It's a standalone racing track. We've helped in the past and we will continue to do so. This is going to be a great motorsport precinct with the council and us having already approved (future development).

"We will see two to three thousand jobs created. We've got the Western Sydney International Dragway next door which we funded, at $33 million - and the Eastern Creek circuit itself is an important part of Sydney's motor racing future.

"We've invested heavily in the past and will continue to invest in the future, provided we've got the events and the races to continue to make it viable.

"We are investing $85 million over three years into our major events corporation and it's all about getting back into the business of big events. There's no reason motor racing can't be part of our major events calendar."