/ 25 October 2007

Singapore to make F1 history with night race

Singapore will make history when it stages the first Formula One night race next year after the sport’s governing body gave the go-ahead, the race promoter said on Thursday.

Singapore GP Ltd said the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) gave its approval for the night race through the Singapore Motor Sports Council.

The inaugural Formula One Singapore Grand Prix will be held on September 28 next year on a circuit of public roads around the city-state’s Marina Bay area surrounded by skyscrapers and colonial buildings.

”We are well on our way to creating history. With two positive lighting tests under our belt, we are on track to delivering the first night race in Formula One history,” said Colin Syn, deputy chairperson of Singapore GP.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran confirmed FIA has given ”in-principle approval” for the high-speed car race to be held at night, but added more work needed to be done to ensure safety.

”They still need to work out the details and practical considerations on the ground, and safety continues to be the major concern. So that will be the focal point,” he said in a statement.

”But it is a very welcome approval because it means all the parties involved can proceed with a lot more confidence and excitement.”

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber, after testing the proposed Singapore circuit in March, said more research was needed to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

Singapore GP said last week that Italy-based Valerio Maioli will design and construct the lighting system for the Singapore event.

The firm will make the race track almost four times brighter than a typical stadium, Singapore GP said.

The lights will be brought to Singapore in early January for testing under local conditions and set up in the second quarter of 2008.

Two lighting tests were carried out in July and September at the Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track in Le Castellet, France and ”no complications were reported by the test observers or the drivers involved”, Singapore GP said.

The proposed system was presented to FIA in Paris on October 10.

Staging the event at night is expected to boost global TV ratings because it will enable fans in different time zones to watch the race, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has said.

The Singapore event will be Asia’s first street race, Singapore GP said. Neighbouring Malaysia hosts a grand prix on a permanent circuit, as do China and Japan.

Singapore, one of Asia’s wealthiest economies, formally began construction of its Formula One Grand Prix facilities on August 31 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new pit building.

The facility, along Singapore’s waterfront, will hold 36 garages for 12 racing teams on the ground floor.

Race organisers said the 5,05km street route would offer ”a number of overtaking opportunities, fast turns and technically challenging sections”.

Singapore officials have said hosting a Formula One race will bring the island-republic closer to its ambition of becoming a ”vibrant, global city”. — Sapa-AFP