Australia confirms GP schedule

With the season-opening race due to start at 5pm, to ensure it will capture more of a television audience in Europe, organisers have also moved back the start time of events in the build-up to the big day.

As well as qualifying now running from 5pm, practice sessions will also start later than has been normal.

Drew Ward, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said he hoped the new timetable would help attract spectators who would not normally be able to attend practice days.

"The changes to the Formula One session times means that each day finishes on a high note and, for Thursday and Friday, the most anticipated action will happen after school and after work" he said.

"On race-day Sunday the atmosphere and anticipation builds in the lead up to the race which will decide the first Formula One winner of the year. We want to create that kind of build up on the other days also - to save the best action until last and finish each day with a bang."

He added: "In the past, the Australian Grand Prix has been a "morning to afternoon" event - from 2009 it will be a "lunchtime through to sunset" event. This change in timing, together with the scheduling of the best entertainment at the end of the day, should suit everyone - families, workers and those of us who want to get out and about over one of Melbourne's biggest weekends."

2009 Australian GP timetable:

Practice session 1  Friday    1230 - 1400
Practice session 2  Friday    1630 - 1800
Practice session 3  Saturday  1400 - 1500
Qualifying          Saturday  1700 - 1800
Race                Sunday    1700 - 1835 approx