Melbourne in GP fever!

It’s the first time I’d been to the Australian Grand Prix. Melbourne was gripped in GP fever! It was, therefore, a nightmare to find rooms. I ended up booking at the Novotel- it was fine, but not worth $400 a night…

Melbourne was gripped in GP fever.

It was, therefore, a nightmare to find rooms. I ended up booking at the Novotel (something like $400 a night but luckily we were sharing. It was fine – not worth $400 a night – but convenient, being in walking distance to the circuit. Also staying there were the BBC Sport F1 team. We’d only decided to go about two weeks before so I’d recommend booking ahead which would be cheaper.

This is the first race of the 2012 Grand Prix season, so it’s the first chance for teams to see how their new cars compare with one another, and the first chance for the fans to see the cars driven in anger since the last season ended.

It’s the first time I’d been to the Australian Grand Prix. Previously I’d been to Britain at Silverstone twice, and Monza in Italy once. So, I was looking forward to seeing how it all panned out in Australia with anticipation.

Below: Artisan bakers in St Kilda This place was across the road from the Albert Park entrance to the circuit. You could hear the cars while catching a bite en route to the circuit, and watch the richer F1 fans ariving in their Ferraris and Mercedes.

You could also listen to concerned, swan-loving locals worrying about the hearing damage being caused to the permanent residents of the lake (swans). They looked fine to us.

Sailing boats on the lake in the middle of the Albert Park circuit. One of the side attractions.