Stoddart: later start won't save Oz GP

With Ecclestone adamant that the Melbourne event should become a night race, and race chiefs opposed to the idea, the suggestion of moving the start time back to 5pm is being considered.

That move would be better for both the European and Asian television audiences, and also ensure the Melbourne does not to have to pay out for expensive lighting systems.

But Stoddart, who has flown into Melbourne for this weekend's race, thinks Ecclestone may not be willing to back down on his desire.

"The only thing that's going to appease Bernie is a total night race," Stoddart told the Herald Sun newspaper. "I think it's a night race, or it. This is a halfway house. I can't see it improving the ratings, if that's what it's about."

Stoddart believes that Melbourne may be better off moving its race date back in the year, when the pressures to ensure a high audience are not so great.

"It will be interesting to see where the calendar goes next year," Stoddart said. "There are plenty of countries happy to spend $50 million on a sanctioning fee. It's hard to fight those economics."

Australian Grand Prix corporation chairman Ron Walker is adamant, however, that there is no chance of the event finding the money it would need to run the race at night.

He thinks the 5pm offer will be enough to satisfy the demands of television broadcasters.

"Let's clear the air and say that compromise is the art of good business, and we have made a huge compromise in terms of what Mr Ecclestone wants," Mr Walker said.

"I think Mr Ecclestone is a very fair person actually and probably one of the greatest sports promoters in the world today and he understands how we run the sport," he said.

Speaking about the difficulties of making the event a night race, Walker added: "We've got 300 hectares of land here. It's just not lighting of the track here, it's lighting the whole park to protect our patrons."