March 10 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian Formula One Grand Prix will probably shift to an early evening start from next year as organizers try to save the Melbourne race.

The season-opening event faces pressure from F-1 Chief Executive Officer Bernie Ecclestone to be run at night to satisfy broadcasters in the motor sport's European heartland.

The Australian Grand Prix Corp., which has already put back the 2 p.m. start time by 90 minutes, said today it may stage a twilight race in 2009 as a compromise. Melbourne has hosted the Grand Prix since 1996 and has a contract until 2010.

``If starting the race later this year increases the television audience around the world, as we believe it will, we'll seek a 5 p.m. start for the 2009 race,'' Ron Walker, the corporation's chairman, said in a statement. ``All this can be achieved without any additional infrastructure costs.''

Ecclestone, who has added races in Bahrain, China and Singapore to boost the sport's popularity in Asia, was cited in yesterday's Mail on Sunday as saying that the only way a Grand Prix could stay in Australia was if it were held at night.

``It is ridiculous that people are asked not to sleep in order to see it live,'' the newspaper cited Ecclestone as saying. ``That can't carry on. The alternative is to pull the race completely from Australia.''

Walker has previously said it would cost about A$40 million ($37.1 million) to install floodlights for night racing at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit, which will host the season- opening race in six days.

The 2007 edition cost the Victoria state government A$35 million, according to the Grand Prix Corp.'s annual report presented to state parliament in October.

Singapore will make its debut on the circuit Sept. 28 by staging the first night Grand Prix.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney at dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 10, 2008 01:10 EDT