Bernie Ecclestone has given the Australian grand prix a boost at the end of a week beset by local media criticism of the loss-making event.
The F1 supremo, in Melbourne after talks with Singapore officials about a possible future race in the Asian island state, called reports that said the Albert Park venue was empty on the first days of the 2007 event “crazy”.
More than 45,000 paying spectators attended the circuit on Thursday, when F1 cars are missing from the programme, and on Friday organisers reported a crowd of 75,000.
“There’s no other circuit in the world on a Thursday that gets 45,000 people,” Ecclestone told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
“I mean it’s completely crazy that people are talking about this.”
Melbourne has a contract to host formula one until 2010, and 76-year-old Ecclestone played down concerns that the city is likely to lose its race.
He is a close ally of race promoter Ron Walker, who Bernie said puts in a “monumental effort” to stage the event.
“So obviously that will be taken into consideration,” Bernie suggested.
Ron Walker commented: “It took us years to get (the grand prix) and we are certainly not going to let it go.”
