Australian Grand Prix Corp looking at new pit facility 

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation is currently reviewing the need to upgrade the existing or construct a new F1 pit facility at Albert Park.

New Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Travis Auld confirmed on 3AW Melbourne’s radio morning show hosted by Neil Mitchell “experts” were examining the current pit building which has been in place since the race first came to Melbourne in 1996.

The main building which just houses the F1 teams is being looked at, whilst the separate temporary garages the Supercars teams operate from was not mentioned.

New CEO Auld said it is one of the main areas highlighted as the corporation finds ways of continuing to improve the booming event.

Mark Webber exiting the pits in 2010. Image: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

“We have got to build on what is an incredible event and make it better,” he told Mitchell.

“We are looking at that (the pit facility) now. It is an asset for the park throughout the year with local soccer and football clubs.

“We are thinking about it with experts looking at upgrading it or whether it needs something bigger than that.

“There is an expectation and a push to modernise the facilities all over the world with more people in the teams operating the garages.”

Australian Grand Prix chair Martin Pakula also said it is also hoped the community can greater utilise the structure throughout the year.

“It is not an insubstantial role for an organisation to manage and operate a facility like that,” he also said to Mitchell.

“There are limitations for how it can be used due to the garages but the upstairs area we want to have a conversation with users and clubs about how that can be used as a community space.”

Alex Rins rolling through the Phillip Island pits last year. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

Not only is the Albert Park pit building under the microscope, but also the facilities at Phillip Island which have remained similar for a long period of time, while the track has received some modifications this year.

“At Phillip island I would like to see the facilities for the fans, riders and teams as good as they possibly can be,” he said.

Auld also revealed that plans of making Thursday and Friday bigger events in themselves.

Whilst all four days achieved record breaking figures this year, Thursday and Friday were not sell outs with Formula 1 only staging two practice sessions on the latter.

Auld said a concert could be introduced to entice more fans to attend the Thursday where no Formula 1 sessions are held.

Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas spray the champagne on the podium in 2017. image:Motorsport images

“When you have a younger audience they are looking for entertainment and we are thinking about what we can do on a Thursday to get a bigger crowd,” he said.

“Do we do something on a Thursday night? There are a lot of options.

“Perhaps buy a ticket to the race then access a concert?”

The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix takes place this weekend, while the 2024 Formula 1 Grand Prix returns to Albert Park on March 22-24 as round three.

Main image by Motorsport images

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