Preparations under way for F1's first night race

[Wizzo]

Nearly a year ahead of the event, preparations are under way for the first night race in the history of Formula 1. Approval has been received for the Singapore street circuit, including a state-of-the-art bespoke lighting system. The race will be the biggest sports event the republic has ever hosted.

Singapore received in-principle approval from the FIA in September for the proposed 5.067km-long street circuit, which is designed to offer multiple overtaking opportunities as well as challenging turns.

Set against the Singapore skyline, spectators should get a close-up view of the city as the circuit passes historic landmarks such as the City Hall, and modern buildings along the Marina Bay. The cars are expected to reach 300km/h in certain parts of the track.

Lighting specialist Valerio Maioli of Ravenna, Italy, has designed an illumination system to maximise visibility for night-race conditions.

It's designed to minimise glare and reflections from a wet surface or spray from cars by using lighting projectors strategically positioned on one side of the track.

The logistical set-up is vast - 108,423m of cables, 240 steel pylons and about 1500 light projectors will be used, with a power requirement of more than three giga-watts. The lighting will be four times brighter than lights at sports stadiums.

[Steven Roy]

I read a few weeks ago that to avoid glare on TV they will only light one side of the circuit.  To me this seems dangerous and distracting for a driver.

[Scott]

But the lights are indirect, and frequent and strong enough to light the entire track and run-off areas well. 

I think it's a waste just to do the race to make it appealing to the European time slot, but a night race can have exciting new elements to enjoy (I wonder if Ferrari will have to re-colour their car so it still comes out Marlboro red under the lights?).  As for the time slot, I spent most of my life getting up at 6am 10-12 times a year to watch the races in Europe while living in Alberta, so I have little sympathy for the Europeans that have to get up early or stay up late to watch a few races.

[Ian]

About the only one I don't get up for Scotty is the Aussie one, 3am is a bit too early, I have to get up at 4-30/5am for a few, but we don't really mind do we.

[romephius]

The Australian Race is the only one we get live..... as for the rest there is some form of delay (as little as 30 minutes).  Most races from europe I get around 2245 on a sunday night, races on the American continent are usually broadcast around 3 am...... depending on work, I will goto bed early and get up for the race and then back to bed for an hour or 2 more sleep before going to work.

So a night race in Asia probably won't really affect my viewing times..... channel 10 is bound to put it on late at night due to the relatively poor demand for F1 here.

I am jealous of all you guys in europe.

Rom

[cosworth151]

Champ Car has run a night race on a street circuit in Houston for the past couple of years. I haven't heard of any problems with the lighting.



I wonder if several of the teams might change their paint fot the night race. Most of the major NASCAR teams use a more metallic paint for the night races. It really makes the cars shine under the lights.

We get the European races live at about 07:00 on Sunday mornings. We get the Far East and Aussie races late Saturday night. It's kind of cool to be able to say "I'm going to watch tomorrow's race tonight! (Not that Bernie gives a fat rat's backside about American fans.)

[Ian]

  Ahem, Rom, I don't like having to put a buddy right, but, I am not European, I am English and I will never call myself a European, that said, your a good buddy. 

[romephius]

Sorry Ian..... please excuse my lapse into New Zealand thinking... I strapped my Aussie brain back on...... LOL.... it goes without saying that I am very jealous of you Brits as well.

Rom 

[Dare]

 (I wonder if Ferrari will have to re-colour their car so it still comes out Marlboro red under the lights?). 

If I not mistaken Scotty last year Ferrari stopped using
the Marboro orange and went back to the Ferari blood
red.We'll have to ask Ferrari fan JB if iI'm right