Night race plan rubbished by green lobby.

Bernie Ecclestone's throwaway comment, made in the build-up to Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, that more events could run under lights to benefit the majority audience in Europe has been met with derision by sections of the Melbourne population.

With one potential newcomer to the calendar, Singapore, already being touted as Formula One's first 'night race', Ecclestone hinted that more could follow, particularly if it meant being able to attract bigger viewing figures in the sport's European heartland, with Australia, China and, possibly even more likely, Japan, high on the list of candidates.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker went public with the possibility of running under lights even before Ecclestone mentioned it on Sunday, claiming that the move would give the event a better television profile in Europe and North America.

"If we could sell Melbourne, Australia, to another billion people, we'd consider it," Walker was quoted as saying, "The extra cost will be discounted because we'll be able to sell the TV rights for a higher amount of money."

However, the prominent Albert Park environmental lobby has led the response to Ecclestone's proposal, claiming that running the Melbourne event at night would not only cause greater disruption to the city, but would also raise costs for an event already struggling to make ends meet financially.

"It's all very well for Ron Walker to say that the cost of a night event would be offset by the sale of television rights to a potentially larger audience in Europe, but the Victorian taxpayer does not own them," Save Albert Park spokesman Peter Goad told Melbourne newspaper The Age, "The television rights, both international and local, are owned by Bernie Ecclestone.

"If Ron Walker, at the moment, is still claiming an audience for his daytime race of 360 million in 132 countries - which is a wild, wild over-estimate - why would he want to pay for a night race, to increase the audience in Europe?"

Goad added that, with the city shrouded in darkness, Melbourne's famous skyline would not be available to attract potential visitors, while residents - many of whom object to the race taking place at all, would face greater disruption, with noise from the circuit continuing into the night.