Motor racing-Melbourne to ponder floodlit Grand Prix - media

MELBOURNE, Mar 14 (Reuters) Australian Grand Prix organisers will look into the possibility of staging the race at night if Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone presses ahead with the idea, local media reported today.

Ron Walker, chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said the possibility of a race under floodlights at the city's Albert Park road circuit had been discussed with Ecclestone, but nothing had been decided yet.

''We are looking at it and, when Bernie gets here, we'll talk to him about it again,'' Walker was quoted as saying in the Age newspaper. ''He hasn't said to me that we have to do it. It's an option.'' Ecclestone is eager to boost television audiences in the sport's European stronghold and night-time races in Asia promise an enticing new direction for the sport.

He has already discussed with a Singapore consortium, led by property magnate Ong Beng Sang, the possibility of holding a race there, and it could be the testing ground for a floodlit Grand Prix as early as next year.

Singapore government ministers have also backed the idea of the island state being added to the FIA's race calendar.

''It's not a fait accompli by any means,'' Walker said. ''There are problems with the power grid in Albert Park. It will take a massive amount of kilowatts to light up the track for the drivers, plus there are also environmental issues.

''Singapore would be the test bed to see if it works, if indeed Singapore gets a race,'' he said.

''Clearly, Bernie wants to get a lot more free-to-air TV coverage in Europe and the United States.'' A 20-man delegation, led by a Singapore government minister, will be at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, the 2007 Formula One curtainraiser, and will hold further discussions with Ecclestone, the Age said.

REUTERS SAM KN1301