May 11, 2007

S'pore to host F1 race from 2008

SINGAPORE - Singapore has won a five-year deal to host a Formula One race on a street circuit starting next year, and hopes to break new ground by staging the first Grand Prix night race, a government minister said on Friday.

The race could be held in September or early October 2008, and the city-state has the option to extend the deal for another five years.

'Singapore could potentially stage the first-ever night race. It would be unique, different, and allow the Singapore event to reach out to television audiences in Asia, Europe and even the US,' Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran told a press briefing.

Several Grand Prix drivers have spoken against the idea of a night race, citing safety concerns.

But Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone, speaking by teleconference, said he was confident that a night race would be held and that safety conditions would be met.

'It's going to be lit as if it's daylight,' he said.

Formula One cars do not have headlights, so the track would have to be floodlit at night to make it safe enough for drivers used to hitting top speeds in excess of 300kph.

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has expressed concern that rainy weather during a night race would mean poor visibility.

In March, Mr Webber tested a 4.8km street circuit through Singapore's business district, proposed by leading grand prix circuit designer Hermann Tilke.

Mr Ecclestone is keen on a night race to boost television audiences in the sport's European heartland.

But organisers are still looking at safety issues, said Mr Iswaran.

'Safety is of paramount importance to all of us. Therefore we will proceed with a night race only if the safety and operational requirements of all parties... are fully met,' he said. 'If not we will revert to a day race.'

Singapore's announcement came a day after Mr Ecclestone revealed that Valencia had reached an agreement to host a grand prix from 2008 on a circuit around the Spanish city's new America's Cup port.

That race is scheduled for late in the season on a newly designed circuit of between 4.1 and 4.3km in length, reminiscent of Monaco's with its harbour-side location.