Motorsport: Change of date for Australian GP

Next year's Australian Grand Prix will be held in Melbourne from March 30 to April 2, just four days after the closing ceremony for the Commonwealth Games.

The Australian race has served as the season-opener for the past decade, but has been put back to avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games, which will be held from March 15-26.

Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive officer Tim Bamford said the sport's world governing body had given approval for the race to be held on April 2.

"It's an international sporting double like never before," Bamford said. The FIA is yet to announce the dates for next year's season, but Bamford said the Australian event was now expected to be the third race on the calendar.