14/03/2012
NEWS STORY
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Mat Coch writes:
The Formula One season is now tantalisingly close. The teams have well and truly arrived in Melbourne with most of the set up work completed already and just a few finishing touches remaining.
Many of the drivers were at the circuit on Wednesday - Fernando Alonso, Paul di Resta, both HRT pilots and Kimi Raikkonen - even though official proceedings don't begin until tomorrow afternoon. The first FIA Press Conference of the season will feature both local hero Mark Webber and world champion Sebastian Vettel (above at the heart of a scrum at a media event at St. Kilda a short while ago) .
The circuit itself looks to have changed little, aside from a few different logos on the walls. It's a spooky place, near deserted as the last of the set up crews finish off the countless tasks that need to be done before the gates open - they were adjusting the angle of the trackside light systems this afternoon.
Away from the track itself there is a grandstand in the middle of the circuit, set up for some motorcycle stunt riding over the course of the weekend. There's also an Education Centre and a number of sideshow rides to keep the crowds amused. V8 Supercars again feature on the supporting category, which will keep the locals happy.
Reassuringly the weather is warm, a far cry from the arctic conditions last March. Rain is forecast for Friday as the temperatures cool as the weekend progresses - 22 degrees the high predicted for Saturday and Sunday - though for the moment shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day.
To say that the sense of anticipation is palpable is stretching a truth, but there is a buzz in the air. Away from the track the city goes about its normal business, downtown Melbourne furnished only with a couple of merchandise stands to give any indication Formula One is in town, but within the confines of the circuit - and the paddock - a winter's worth of hard work is about to be tested.
The Formula One season starts here.