The Victorian government has played down the prospect of the under-fire Australian grand prix being moved to a permanent circuit outside of Melbourne.<\/p>\n
As speculation continues about the race’s future beyond its 2015 contract, Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker recalled recent plans for a purpose-built facility at Avalon, an airport 50 kilometres south of the city.<\/p>\n
Bernie Ecclestone said recently he regretted not pushing organisers to build such a venue ten years ago, before the cost to taxpayers of hosting the race on the temporary Albert Park layout became such an issue.<\/p>\n
“Now that Mr Ecclestone has raised the issue again, maybe we might go to Avalon and look at the plans,” Walker told reporters in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
But tourism minister Louise Asher said those plans are too expensive.<\/p>\n
“I am told that a purpose-built track would cost around $300 million, and that’s not $300 million that the government has got,” she told the Age.<\/p>\n
“Part of the reason for securing the GP was the city location, and that’s part of the reason it is here,” she added.<\/p>\n
David Coulthard on Wednesday admitted he is disappointed about the ongoing saga surrounding the Australian grand prix and its future.<\/p>\n
“Every time I come down here we see all the anti-grand prix debate, and we don’t get that anywhere else in the world,” he told SEN radio.<\/p>\n
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