F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is adamant that night racing will get the green light when the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix is held next year.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is adamant that night racing will get the green light when the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix is held next year.
But speaking on Friday at the official unveiling of the event, Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry, S.Iswaran, indicated that the event would revert to a day race if organisers were not completely satisfied with safety requirements.
“A night race will be unique, different and allow the Singapore event to reach out to television audiences in Asia, Europe and the US,” said Iswaran.
“(However) safety is of paramount concern to all of us. Therefore, we will proceed with a night race only if the safety and operational requirements of all parties, including the FIA, FOA and Formula One teams are fully met.”
But speaking on a conference line from Barcelona, Ecclestone stated his full confidence that the race would go ahead under floodlights.
“I think that we can stop discussion about the possibility of holding this race during the day,” said the F1 boss after prolonged questioning about the safety aspects of holding a night race on an untested street circuit.
“All of the conditions for an event of the (F1) Championship is conditional on safety and this is no different to anything else.
“We will evaluate it and I've spoken to the people that have been checking these things over and we have no problems at all with safety.
“It's going to be lit as if it's daylight,” he added.
According to Ecclestone, some testing would be held under floodlights on a regular race track before the Singapore Grand Prix takes place in September or October next year.
“We will look at doing the testing at another circuit in Europe, not during a race, but the people that are going to carry this out are more than confident that there is no problem.
“If you think about the fact that we have (night) cricket and tennis, in which the balls come along at a high speed, there are no problems with lighting today. The way that people carry this out is perfect.
“We have no doubts but we will obviously check it out.”
