Malaysia and Australia GP's postpone race start

Like Australia, fellow faraway F1 race host Malaysia will also stage a 'twilight' Grand Prix beginning in 2009, it has emerged.Instead of agreeing to install expensive floodlighting and run a Singapore-style night race, organisers of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last year negotiated to postpone the race start-time to 5pm beginning in 2009."Obviously, the later it is the better. I suppose it is easier getting up in Europe at 6am than 3am," a half-satisfied F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone said last year.

Also to benefit European television viewers, it appears Malaysia has also agreed to the 'twilight' scheme, as the FIA on Tuesday confirmed the 5pm race start-time for both opening rounds of the 2009 championship.Qualifying in Melbourne and Sepang will also take place at 5pm local time.E.A.

Source: GMM

Spa Francorchamps in trouble after ING's decision?

As the Dutch bank ING, title sponsor of the Renault Formula One team and several Grands Prix, decided to cut back on its F1 sponsorship, the ING Belgian Grand Prix starts to fear for a huge financial deficit. In 2007, the GP at Spa-Francorchamps suffered a loss of €3,1 million and in 2008 a loss of €3,8 million. Due to the financial crisis and the decision made by ING, the organisers of the race fear an even bigger loss in 2009.

André Maes, one of the organisers of the Belgian Grand Prix, said: "Involving sponsorship, we have nothing to fear. We have no contract with ING, but with All Sports Management that organises the publicity of all Grands Prix. The thing I do fear is that ING will not buy as many tickets as they did in the past. In 2008 they bought 3000 tickets for their employees and clients." In order to break even, the GP at Francorchamps should attract 80.000 visitors. Last year, 63.000 visitors showed up at the famous race track in the Ardennes. Due to the global financial crisis and the decision of ING, the number of spectators is expected to decrease which would led to an enormous deficit. The 2009 Belgian Grand Prix takes place on 30 August.

Source: f1technical.net

No 'free' Friday engine use in 2009

Friday practice will no longer be exempt from F1's long-life engine rules, the FIA's Charlie Whiting has clarified. The engine rules for 2009 have been tweaked, with the mandatory consecutive use of power plants dropped.Instead, drivers will be limited to eight engines for the entire season and can use them "as they like".In 2008 and previously, the two-race per engine rule did not apply to Fridays. "Now, for 17 races, the eight engines will have to do the three days of each grand prix," Whiting said in a media briefing on Tuesday."What the teams will do is to have a Friday engine that'll probably do the first four races or something of that nature. They'll then take the engine out and use another one for Saturday and Sunday," he said.There has also been confusion as to whether, because of the existing 'parc ferme' rules, one engine could be used in qualifying and then exchanged with another for the race.Whiting confirmed that penalties for engine changes will only occur in 2009 if a driver uses a "ninth engine".

Source: GMM