A1 Faces Legal Action over Name

According to reports coming out of Australia, the organisers of the Melbourne Grand Prix have now authorised legal proceedings about A1 GP over the use of the term 'Grand Prix'. This comes just one week before the inaugural event at Brands Hatch.

In a statement issued by Australian Grand Prix boss Ron Walker, he claimed he had no choice but to press ahead with the action following the breakdown of talks between lawyers in London this week.

The statement said: "It is unfortunate that the matter has come to this, however, the corporation must protect its valuable intellectual property in relation to the Grand Prix."

The likely bone of contention is the fact that the A1 Grand Prix's race at Eastern Creek could infringe on Melbourne's billing as host of the Australian Grand Prix.

Walker is a major ally of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and earlier this year launched a campaign among fellow race promoters to back the sport's commercial boss in the face of the threat of a breakaway F1 series.