Australian Grand Prix Formula One Race

Formula One Australian Grand Prix

The home of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, was at the Adelaide Grand Prix Circuit, but has moved, and is currently held at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit that is located in Albert Park. The races used to host open wheel racing, in the Formula One style, but they were not part of the World Championships. Venues also used to alternate a great deal, with Albert Park, situated in Melbourne, being very popular in the 1950s. Local drivers would often compete against the world class drivers of the time. This kind of racing was came to an end in 1984.

In 1985, the Australian Grand Prix became a part of the world championships, and therefore, a part of Formula One. The last race of the season was raced on the Adelaide street circuit. This street circuit was not as narrow and challenging as the circuit in Monaco, but still put pressure on drivers and their cars. And in 1986, one of the most memorable Australian Grand Prix took place here. Nigel Mansell only needed a third place to win the championship. Also fighting for the title was Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet. With Mansell in the lead and only a few laps to the finish, everyone thought that they knew the outcome. The Williams car that Mansell was driving, suddenly had a mechanical failure, sending Mansell with sparks flying, off the circuit. Prost, then took the lead, to win the race and the championship. He too, almost did not make it, as he ran out of fuel on his warm down lap.

In 1995, the Adelaide Street Circuit, held its last Formula One Australian Grand Prix, to the disappointment of many. This was a very popular street circuit amongst the drivers, and the teams thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere of this circuit. In 1993, together with the Australian Grand Prix chairman, Ron Walker, the government of Jeff Kennett announced that the Australian Grand Prix would be moved to Albert Park. A great amount of money was spent to rebuild the circuit, and it lead to protests and controversy. Many people believed that the funds where better spent by erecting a permanent circuit, and that the benefits outlined to support the Albert Park renovations, were exaggerated and not completely true. A permanent circuit has never been seriously considered. However, the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit does still attract spectators. In 2001, tragedy struck the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, when a tyre that flew off during a collision between Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher struck Graham Beveridge, a volunteer marshal, and killed him. The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit is completed in 58 laps and is a total race length of 307.57 kilometers.

Due to being host to the Commonwealth Games in 2006, the Australian Grand Prix was host the opening race of the season. There are rumors circulating, that the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, will be moved back to Adelaide. The Adelaide venue had always been profitable, whereas Melbourne has not seen any profit yet.