Radio Australia Today Editorial

The Melbourne Formula One. We’ll be there.

26 February 2010

Mark Webber, thrilled after winning his maiden Formula One race last year.

It all starts again for him, and the F1, in Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit next month, and we’ll be there in the build-up to the race, interviewing drivers, officials and fans.

This will be the fourth year that we’ve been at the race, and each year has had its own special moments. I will never forget last year when the Brawn team swept all before it, and I brushed past its backer, Virgin’s Richard Branson. I saw nothing but his big smile. He must’ve known something, because his team won race after race, went on to become the World Champion team, and also took out the Drivers’ title.

Last year was also the year (finally!) of Webber, who won two races, finished fourth, and at one stage had a sniff of the World Championship.

Then there was the year before, which was exciting for the rise of Brit Lewis Hamilton, who was considered a sit-down version of Tiger Woods: charming, prodigious and well-tempered. His second year racing, and a championship. Extraordinary.

Who knows what the GP holds for us this year? We won’t know until the chequered flag drops on the Sunday (March 28).

So join us for our broadcasts on Thurs the 25th of March, and Friday the 26th. You’ll know when you’ve switched us on, we’ll be the program with the scream of the engines behind us, and the smell of the fuel.

We’ll you won’t actually smell the fuel, but you’ll think you can.

By the way, the GP organisers say the event is emissions neutral. They plant trees to counter the emissions, so that helps take the guilt factor out.

Tell us what you think of the GP. Is it over-hyped? is it a waste of perfectly good park space? or is it just a bit of fun. Let us know by entering a comment below, eh?

- Phil Kafcaloudes