Making sure the race doesn’t go unnoticed
Organisers of the Australian Grand Prix hope the event can compete with an upcoming smorgasbord of sport in the city of Melbourne.
For the first time since 1996, the race at Albert Park will not host the season opener this year, after requests to avert a clash with Melbourne`s Commonwealth Games next month.
But the GP`s new date, the first weekend in April, has thrown up another clash -- the first round of Australia`s highly popular AFL football season.
Asked if Formula One would have to take a back seat in Melbourne this year, Grand Prix chief executive Tim Bamford told the Herald Sun: ``It depends what happens over the next few weeks as the Games come on and we see what`s happening.``

To ensure the big race does not go unnoticed, a mammoth 36m balloon - shaped like an F1 car - was unveiled in Melbourne this week, and will hang over the Commonwealth Games in March.

Bamford said at a launch event in the city: ``We obviously want to maintain the PR and the marketing presence we have, and that`s why we`re here.``

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