The Weekly Grapevine
What do Albert Park and Silverstone have in common? Both have proud histories on the F1 calendar - and both are under threat. Dieter Rencken takes a close look at each circuit's plight
A Tale of Two Circuits
Two Grand Prix circuits, situated at opposite ends of the earth, and with little in common but for the fact that they host their countries' Grands Prix and share the same language, yet they are in the news this week, both for the same and different reasons.
The first to make headlines was Melbourne's Albert Park circuit, which first hosted a race in 1996 after snatching the rights off Adelaide via some pretty deft political and financial manoeuvring. Prime mover behind the switch was Ronald Walker AC OBE, local businessman, former lord mayor of Australia's 'second' city and (now) a good friend of Bernie Ecclestone.
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