Q & A with Drew Ward, AGPC CEO

But with Australian officials not keen to fork out for the added expense of lighting the Albert Park track, it looks like there will be some fraught discussions in future months when it comes to sorting a new contract.

Autosport.com caught up with Drew Ward, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, in Melbourne on Sunday to find out how preparations for this year's race are going, and what he thinks of the night race question.

Q. There seems to be more excitement about this year's race then there has been for some time. Would you echo that feeling?

Drew Ward: We've got a new team at the Grand Prix Corporation. There is a new philosophy and we've changed a whole range of aspects associated with this year's event. And we hope that is reflected in a new excitement associated with next weekend's grand prix.

We are finding that the combination of entertainment that we have put together to support Formula One - the V8 Supercars, the new theme of our celebrity race, the musical festival and a post-race Kiss concert, offering children's tickets free of charge - all of these combinations of entertainment seem to be going down very well with our ticket-buying public. And they are proving that at the box office.

Q. How are the ticket sales going? Are they up on last year?

DW: Ticket sales have been strong. It is very encouraging, but of course there is still some time to go. So we are not getting complacent or too excited just yet. There are a number of days to go before the event and ticket sales on the day are critical as well.

But the weather is looking promising, the stage is set, the drivers are looking forward to it and I hope it is a huge weekend at Albert Park next week.

Q. Do you think it important that F1 races offer more to fans than just the grand prix itself?

DW: I think it depends on the city, and depends on the capture. Here in Melbourne we are blessed by a whole series of very high-profile major events. And our event-going public in Melbourne is very demanding in the quality of the entertainment that they expect.

So we are always seeking to add new experiences, new entertainment and add value to the ticket buying public's participation in the event.

Q. There are always stories in the local press about the amount of financial investment the Victoria Government have to put in to host the race. Do you feel any pressure to get a return on the money they are providing?

DW: No. At the Grand Prix Corporation, we recognize the investment that the Victoria Government makes for this event. We concentrate on the events we run - the F1 event at Albert Park and the MotoGP event at Phillip Island.

And we have a very hard-working, dedicated, committed group of people that are single-minded about their purpose of delivering the biggest and most successful events we can manage.

Q. What do you feel about the longer-term future of the race? Bernie Ecclestone has said again today that he wants this event to become a night race...

DW: In the present circumstances, the Victorian Government has ruled out a night race. What we have done this year is changed the F1 race time to later on the Sunday afternoon. It is a 3.30 pm race start, which will tie in a little better with the broadcast timing to the European timezone. It would not surprise me if we looked at that again for 2009.

We think it is a sensible compromise, we think it works on both sides - it works for the broadcast audience and it works for the spectator attending the event. We think it is a launch pad for doing other things in the future.

Q. Are you worried about the future of the race beyond 2010?

DW: Frankly at the moment that is the least of my concerns. We are very much focused on the events that are in front of us. We know that regardless of what happens beyond 2010, we have got a great event coming up in a week's time. There is also 2009, and 2010. And whatever happens beyond 2010 will sort itself out.

Q. So a night race is a definite no?

DW: The position of the Victorian Government is that they have ruled it out under the present circumstances. So unless circumstances change, that is the position.