Australian Grand Prix 'Welcomes' New Schedule Changes For '16

The Australian Grand Prix has "undergone a scheduling shake-up" for '16 that will see the race start later in the year and earlier in the day, according to the AAP. Event organizers announced Wednesday that the Albert Park event "will maintain its traditional opening slot on the F1 calendar but will be pushed back" to run from March 31 to April 3 as part of next year's condensed season. In a "strange twist," the first three days of the event, including the qualifying races, will take place before daylight savings ends, while Sunday's big race will "run after the clocks in Victoria have been wound back." The revised date has "been welcomed" by Australian Grand Prix Corp. CEO Andrew Westacott. He said, "Over the past 20 years Melbourne has become synonymous with the start of a new Formula One season, and we look forward to again welcoming all the teams and drivers to our great city in 2016" (AAP, 4/29).