Ecclestone: Ong the key to Singapore GP

The Formula One supremo told Reuters that nothing had been decided so far despite talks with Ong this week and no announcement was planned at this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

"We are looking into all the problems and trying to find ways to solve them," Ecclestone said.

"The trouble is that the government (of Singapore) really want it to be a private enterprise. BS (Beng Seng) and I have been friends for many, many years and we are trying to put it together.

"If we don't get it done, it won't get done."

The plan would be to hold the race at night under floodlights, a first for Formula One, which would boost European television audiences due to the time difference as well as providing a local spectacle.

"That's what we're looking into, that's the intention," said Ecclestone. "It would be a super race."

Shares of Ong's Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Ltd have soared 26 percent in the last month on speculation that he would secure the rights.

Ong's bid has the public support of the Singapore government, which is trying to boost the tourism industry with the launch of two multi-billion-dollar casinos.

The Melbourne Age newspaper said this week that a 20-man delegation, led by a Singapore government minister, will attend Sunday's race for further discussions with Ecclestone.

The Briton also calmed Malaysian fears that a Singapore Grand Prix could threaten their own round of the championship, saying the two races were not linked and both could be accommodated on any future calendar.

"One thing's got nothing to do with the other," he said.

Malaysia's Sepang circuit has been a Formula One fixture since 1999 and hosts the second round of this season on April 8.

Formula One, which has Monaco as the jewel in its crown, is looking for more street races on a calendar that could be expanded to 20 grands prix in future.

Abu Dhabi has already been announced for 2009, with South Korea scheduled for 2010 and the Spanish port city of Valencia, host of this year's America's Cup, among others pushing hard for a street race.

"We'll have to see what we're going to do," Ecclestone said about the possibility of more street races. "There's not many places where you can really do it.

"We'll have a look, we're talking," he said when asked about Valencia's prospects of hosting a possible future European Grand Prix after the decision to allow no country more than one race this year.

Spain, with a double world champion in McLaren's Fernando Alonso, already has a grand prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.