Green Light for Australian Grand Prix

Next year's Australian Grand Prix has received the go-ahead after Victoria's coroner Graeme Johnstone closed the inquest on the death of a track marshal on Thursday.

Johnstone said in reply to questioning by Ross Ray, legal counsel for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, that his recommendations would not stop the race from taking place. "I don't think any recommendations I would make would overburden your client," said Johnstone.

51-year old Graham Beveridge died during this year's Grand Prix when a wheel flew through a gap in the safety barrier after a collision between Ralf Schumacher's Williams and Jacques Villeneuve's BAR.

Several witnesses, as well as Villeneuve and Schumacher, have given statements during the inquest, which had started on December 3. The 2002 Australian Grand Prix was the only race that was still provisional on next season's calendar.

Ron Walker, the Australian Grand Prix chairman, said back in November that new safety measures would be introduced in next year's race, improving the protective fencing around the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

The race, the first Grand Prix of the year, is scheduled for March 3, and the inquest's findings will not be revealed until January next year.