Australian Grand Prix Chair Ron Walker is "on the cusp of a new deal to keep the Formula One race in Melbourne," according to Peter Rolfe of the HERALD SUN. The Napthine State Government sent Walker to Singapore on Wednesday to "accelerate talks on a new race contract" with F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone -- "and get a better deal for Victorian taxpayers." Walker and Ecclestone "thrashed out the advanced stages of a deal in Singapore late this week, which will be put to the Government for approval." An F1 source said that "an offer was now on the table." The source said, "The deal is pretty much done, and will now go to the Cabinet for approval" (HERALD SUN, 9/21). AUTOSPORT's Jonathan Noble reported "New Jersey has won a temporary reprieve for inclusion on the 2014 Formula 1 calendar," with a June 1 slot set to be left open when motorsports governing body FIA "approves the provisional schedule next week." The race had been "absent from a draft schedule that was distributed to the teams ahead of the Italian Grand Prix" (AUTOSPORT, 9/21).
