Bahrain 2014 to be night race

[John S]

They've given up 1st race on calendar claim to get infrastructure ready.                   
If FIF1 got spooked  between daylight and dusk what they gonna do in the witching hours.   

The Bahrain Grand Prix will become a night race next season it has been revealed by circuit chairman Zayed Al Zayani.

The event, which had hoped to secure the opening slot on the 2014 calendar, will instead be round five, with Al Zayani admitting he asked Bernie Ecclestone to delay the race to ensure they have enough time to install the necessary lighting infrastructure.

"We requested from Bernie not to be the first grand prix of the year because we are undergoing a major refurbishment of our track to commemorate the 10th anniversary," he told Autosport.

"We didn't want to be squeezed for time," he added before being asked what the upgrades included: "There are many things, but the highlight will be a night race."

The organisers are expected to confirm whether it will be a duskrace, similar to Abu Dhabi, or a night race like Singapore, in the coming days.

F1times.co.uk, Sun 8th Sept.

[Irisado]

Have we really already had nine years at this horrid track?  How time flies.  Maybe someone could arrange a power cut, so that they can't run the race.  That would be the best outcome all round in my view.

[Willy]

Okay, it begs the question............why?
 

[vintly]

Answer: Because they can.

I've written before about all the ties Bahrain has to F1 / McLaren etc. They are sooooo deeply embedded in the sport it's scary. Plus they're rolling in it. Hence, they can do what they like, and as long as Bernie's around, the race will stay.

[Jericoke]

Okay, it begs the question............why?
 

Because a night race in Bahrain is better for Live TV in Europe.

Any time a race doesn't start at local 2PM, that's the reason.

(If you're asking why race at Bahrain at all... it's still about the money)

[Alianora La Canta]

The race, at the moment, happens in late morning or lunchtime in Europe (Bahrain is 4 hours ahead of the UK). Making it an evening all-dark race would put the broadcast at 4 pm or so in the UK and 5 pm on the western part of Europe. That puts it at risk of missing both lunch and teatime slots - the worst part of the day (other than silly o'clock in the morning) for casual viewers.

More plausible would be either a dusk race ("traditional" start time in Europe, but likely to offend fellow high-payers Abu Dhabi) or a late-night race (7/8 pm in Europe, 11 pm in Bahrain, no obvious downside).

Whichever way round, it would also be terrible for the spectators - if they had any to lose.