Australia loses first GP of F1 calendar to Bahrain

MELBOURNE, July 23 (Reuters) The Australian Formula One Grand Prix has lost its place as the first race on the 2008 Formula One calendar to Bahrain.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation announced today that the March 13-16 Albert Park event would be the second race on the calendar and would drop back to a 2030 IST start (0530GMT) to cater for European television audiences.

Bahrain will stage the first race of the season, a spokesman for the Melbourne race organisers told Reuters.

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