Asia revs up for F1 Grand Prix night glory
PETALING JAYA: Confirmation that both Singapore and Malaysia will host Formula One Grand Prixs – both possibly at night – has shifted the focus of F1 motor racing from Europe, its traditional home, to Asia.
Asia will host at least six races from 2010 – in Australia, Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has also revealed that he is talking to India about an F1 race.
All issues in the contract to extend Malaysia’s hosting of Formula One races until 2015 have been ironed out. Malaysia currently holds the right to host Formula One races until 2010.
And Singapore is pressing ahead with plans to hold the first ever night race in Formula One’s 60-year history, most likely around a street circuit. ??While top drivers including world champion Fernando Alonso have opposed the plan, citing safety fears, others have given their qualified support. ??The attraction to Ecclestone and Singapore is that it will fit in with European television audiences, and if night racing comes to fruition it is certain to be one of the world’s most watched sporting events of 2008.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said that SIC had also agreed to a new provision in the contract where it agreed to night racing at the Sepang F1 Circuit.
Mokhzani said that Ecclestone was playing an “active part” in trying to determine the type of lighting needed to see the start of such racing in Formula One.
Ian Jarrett
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