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Webber against moving Australian GP

Australian driver Mark Webber has backed his home Grand Prix to stay at the Albert Park circuit, amid talks that the race could be relocated

Some reports in the Australian media said GP boss Ron Walker and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone were considering moving the event from its current home at Albert Park to the Flemington Racecourse after its current contract expired in 2010.

Webber, however, reckons it would be wrong to move the race.

"There would be absolutely massive costs to get Flemington underway to hold a motor race," Webber told The Australian newspaper. "The other suggestions are also out of the question. I don't see how anywhere else would be anywhere near as good.

"I just can't see how moving it somewhere else gets away from the problem they're talking about. We need to make Albert Park work, that's what we have to do.

"I'm not saying Albert Park is the only place ever in Australia you could race a Formula One car, I'm just saying if you needed to get it to that level somewhere else the amount of cash to be spent would be staggering."

Albert Park has hosted the Formula One race since 1996, and Webber believes the circuit should be rewarded for its efforts.

"The energy and effort that has gone in since day one to make Albert Park a venue to race at has constantly gained two or three per cent as a venue for us as an industry to go to whether you're a driver, journalist, mechanic or team boss," he added.

"From logistics from the time the cars get off the planes to spectators to get to to and from there, it is brilliant.

"You talk to all the European spectators who come to the Melbourne Grand Prix and they say, my God, we can stay in the city, enjoy the city and go straight to the track."

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