Melbourne GP boss rejects GPWC race
Ron Walker, CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, has indicated that the Melbourne venue will remain a part of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship calendar and will not switch to the breakaway Grand Prix World Championship (GPWC), which is preparing its own series to begin in 2008
"We have a long-term contract with Mr Ecclestone (Formula One Group principal) which runs until 2010 with another five year option and I doubt that the auto manufacturers will in fact get a licence from the FIA to run this sport," Walker told Australian media. "Without a licence from the FIA they just become another Indy or another cycle of motor racing which amounts to not much at all. I don't think anyone wants to take on a secondary race - they all want a Formula 1 race.
"This is probably a game of cards at the moment that is intensifying. We in Melbourne will not be going along with GPWC, we will be continuing our relationship with Mr Ecclestone."
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