Grapevine: Albert Park Ready for Season Opener

With only just over a week before the Formula One cars take to the track for the first time this season at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the preparations at the Albert Park circuit are being completed.

While the Formula One teams start to set their facilities at Albert Park in preparation for the business of Grand Prix racing, the Australian organisers are trying to make sure the thousands of fans arriving from all over the world are provided with an entertaining show.

As part of the support events for the Grand Prix, the Formula One fans will be able to witness a special event, as Australian motor racing icons Allan Moffat and Larry Perkins, with 10 Bathurst 1000 wins between them, take on a modern Formula One car and driver in a special speed comparison at the track.

In a one-lap handicap sprint each day of the Grand Prix, Moffat, driving a BMW 318i road car, will get more than a minute's start on the BMW-Williams car driven by test driver Marc Gene, while Perkins, at the wheel of his V8 Supercar will leave half a minute before the Formula One car.

"How wide is the track? It's quite narrow all the way around, isn't it? I can't see the Formula One car getting past either of us," joked Moffat.

The Formula One contingent has already began to arrive at Melbourne, with the first jumbo jet landing yesterday night.

Meanwhile, two others are due early Wednesday, three on Sunday and the last early Monday.

The first three planes are loaded mainly with television equipment, while the three on Sunday will carry the cars of the 22 drivers plus at least one spare car for each of the 11 teams.

The arrival of French tyre maker Michelin in Formula One to challenge Japan's Bridgestone will double the number of tyres brought to Melbourne, requiring the seventh jumbo this year.

All photos provided by On The Edge Images