Could F1 see up to 5 night races?

[nitro_2005]

First off, we all know that Singapore will host F1's first night race this year, and that Bernie mentioned he would like to see more night races. Well, he may just get his wish...

First off all, I spotted this on gpupdate.net that Qatar were planning to rebuild the Losail circuit, mainly used for MotoGP, which had its first night there only a couple of weeks ago, in a view to hosting F1 races in the future, being held at night.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/03/26/qatar-to-rebuild-track-to-host-formula-1-race/

Then I looked down the page and spotted another news story about Bernie trying to get China to run the race at Shanghai at night, as well as the South Korean GP in 2010.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/03/25/ecclestone-pushing-for-chinese-grand-prix-at-night/

And last week, Malaysia also stated that it is close to running next year's race at Sepang at night too.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66082

So, how likely is it that F1 could have 5 night races on the calender, and how would this affect the sport? My view is that it would boost popularity, because racing at night has something about it that seems to attract people. I remember when I visited Snetterton for the BTCC night race in 1999. It was a fantastic experience, and I'm definately sure with that many night races on the calender, it would bring in more fans.

But that's just my opinion. What do you think? Please tell us your views

 

[Metar]

If F1 night-races are anything like the MotoGP night-race at Qatar, then it'll be a spectacle. The TilkeDromes are too monotonous and boring compared to the older circuits, with the possible exception of Sepang and Fuji, that running them at night will make them the spectacle they should be.

Though frankly, I couldn't care less though if China was even on the calendar.

 

[Robin]

I saw that motogp night race at Qatar and it was really spectacular!

 

[Year.Zero]

They should make Indianapolis into a night-race. That huge stadium would be perfect for it.

 

[Flerbizky]

I saw that motogp night race at Qatar and it was really spectacular!

It was actually Seriously Spectacular :-)

And I agree with those who thinks there should be more night time races !...

 

[Touring Mars]

I doubt we'll see any western hemisphere circuits have night races because then the rest of the world would face the prospect of watching the live races on Monday morning No, wait, what better way is there to start the working week?

 

[Sureboss]

I'm sure the F1 night races will be a spectacle and I think they will go down really well with the whole of the F1 circuit.

 

[peterjford]

I think the night races will add something a little special to some circuits, but I do not like Bernie's reasoning. He is only doing it to get more money by televising the races at good times in Europe. If night races were such a good thing, why are there no European circuits mentioned as having a night race. I'll still watch them live, no matter when they are on (usually 4am).

 

[superberkut]

Night races? That could see more money spent on lighting, and Bernie wouldn't like that... in addition to the energy spent on obtaining it and the resulting environmental damage. But, it's new.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Night races? That could see more money spent on lighting, and Bernie wouldn't like that... in addition to the energy spent on obtaining it and the resulting environmental damage. But, it's new.

Bernie's the one pushing for night races. He's probably well aware of the costs involved, and I daresay FOM isn't going to be the one shelling the money out.

My ownself, I don't have a problem with night races. I like the concept, and I like it that Bernie is trying to make the sport more accessible. I think this can only be a good thing, and I seriously doubt the concerns over safety; Singapore isn't going to be lit by a handful of eventy-five watt globes purchased down a tthe local hardware store two days before.

 

[J-PaP]

Most of you guys are from europe/us or there abouts am I right? Seems that Bernies idea is working if thats the case then as it's making races more interesting and putting them at a better timeslot. I don't mind the idea of a night race but don't care overly much either, the tc ban was enough for me, just add some rain and thats a spectacle enough! I'm more so a pessimist though with these races as I have to stay up till 4am for at least 3/4 of the f1 races already when I have university the next day so adding night races the times where I would normally see the race at around 10-11pm just makes it worse. But i'm a minority in Australia.

 

[Year.Zero]

Night races? That could see more money spent on lighting, and Bernie wouldn't like that... in addition to the energy spent on obtaining it and the resulting environmental damage. But, it's new.

Nonono, GIANT GIANT lightbulbs on the nose of the cars. That's all you need.

 

[Kylehnat]

My ownself, I don't have a problem with night races. I like the concept, and I like it that Bernie is trying to make the sport more accessible.

How does that make the sport more accessible? I can only watch 5 or 6 races live each year, and now Bernie wants to throw all of those to 4 am, too. He only wants to do this so he can generate more TV revenue in Europe, thus making more money for himself.

 

[Rocket Punch]

Night races? That could see more money spent on lighting, and Bernie wouldn't like that... in addition to the energy spent on obtaining it and the resulting environmental damage. But, it's new.

Night race IS BE's idea and is done purely on economical gains and he likes money.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

How does that make the sport more accessible? I can only watch 5 or 6 races live each year, and now Bernie wants to throw all of those to 4 am, too. He only wants to do this so he can generate more TV revenue in Europe, thus making more money for himself.

More accessible to Europeans. I didn't say it was a perfect system - there never will be - but he's opening up new audiences, even if they arenly on the continent.

And just be glad that you can watch five or six live. Australia can only watch one because the network that bought the rights pnly purchased them for the Australian Grand Prix; everything else gets put back to the early morning death slots.

 

[superberkut]

Night race IS BE's idea and is done purely on economical gains and he likes money.

Well, he certainly can do that, and that he does, and so on. So, I'm not going to contest that.

About the only time you would see giant lightbulbs (and doors and a luggage rack) on a Formula One car is in The Simpsons: Hit and Run videogame, where a certain example is referred to as the, "Open Wheel Race Car".

 

[JohnBM01]

The best reason I can think of is that the FIA wants to offer more races on time for the general European audience. I was reading one edition of "Car" magazine at a Barnes and Noble. A caption read on the G.P. of Australia had to do with it being shown at 4:00 AM on European TV (when I mean European in this case, I mostly mean the United Kingdom because Car is a British publication). That's very fine for their audience. On the other hand, us here in America and those in the Asia-Pacific may not get to see these races at favorable times. Saturday is usually my stay-up-late day when I don't get some shut-eye heading into sunrise on Sunday. Most of the European rounds take place a 7:00 AM EDT (6:00 AM CDT, 5:00 AM MDT, and 4:00 AM PDT) here in the States. It's why I'm proud to see racing action from Australia, Malaysia, Canada, China, Japan, United States (no GP this year), Brazil, and places like that because of the time.

Or maybe PD just wants to provide a new challenge for F1 racers. I say again that sufficient lighting is needed since racing on a road course at night can be dangerous if not fully illuminated. One other thing I fear about nighttime road racing is if rain falls. Rain and darkness can be terrible conditions together. Either way, this isn't the F1 of old.

 

[Roo]

I don't mind the idea of the odd night race for the sake of having a night race, but I find Bernie's reasoning ridiculous. If he wants races to be run at times to suit Europeans, then why don't we have the F1 European Championship? It's supposed to be a World Championship, so people all over the world should be able to watch it without requiring insomnia. In any case, you can't advertise to people who are asleep, and I thought the whole point of races in China, Malaysia etc. was to find new audiences and sell stuff to them.

 

[superberkut]

The best reason I can think of is that the FIA wants to offer more races on time for the general European audience. I was reading one edition of "Car" magazine at a Barnes and Noble. A caption read on the G.P. of Australia had to do with it being shown at 4:00 AM on European TV (when I mean European in this case, I mostly mean the United Kingdom because Car is a British publication). That's very fine for their audience. On the other hand, us here in America and those in the Asia-Pacific may not get to see these races at favorable times. Saturday is usually my stay-up-late day when I don't get some shut-eye heading into sunrise on Sunday. Most of the European rounds take place a 7:00 AM EDT (6:00 AM CDT, 5:00 AM MDT, and 4:00 AM PDT) here in the States. It's why I'm proud to see racing action from Australia, Malaysia, Canada, China, Japan, United States (no GP this year), Brazil, and places like that because of the time.

Or maybe PD just wants to provide a new challenge for F1 racers. I say again that sufficient lighting is needed since racing on a road course at night can be dangerous if not fully illuminated. One other thing I fear about nighttime road racing is if rain falls. Rain and darkness can be terrible conditions together. Either way, this isn't the F1 of old.

Very much a good set of points.

Watching headlights (followed by a red taillamp) zipping around in the dark at over 220km/h isn't really, 'sport' either.

 

[Roo]

Says the guy with a Le Mans car in his avatar?

 

[superberkut]

(exasperated) Continued by PM.

Well, how visible would a standard F1 car be now as opposed to a Toyota GT-One, with its reflector strips and numbers and such? I mean, the McLaren will show a bit...

 

[Kylehnat]

I don't mind the idea of the odd night race for the sake of having a night race, but I find Bernie's reasoning ridiculous. If he wants races to be run at times to suit Europeans, then why don't we have the F1 European Championship? It's supposed to be a World Championship, so people all over the world should be able to watch it without requiring insomnia. In any case, you can't advertise to people who are asleep, and I thought the whole point of races in China, Malaysia etc. was to find new audiences and sell stuff to them.

*sniff* ahhhhhhh....that's the fresh smell of sense!

 

[Skygrasper550]

I don't mind the idea of the odd night race for the sake of having a night race, but I find Bernie's reasoning ridiculous. If he wants races to be run at times to suit Europeans, then why don't we have the F1 European Championship? It's supposed to be a World Championship, so people all over the world should be able to watch it without requiring insomnia. In any case, you can't advertise to people who are asleep, and I thought the whole point of races in China, Malaysia etc. was to find new audiences and sell stuff to them.

he has a point..,


IF F1 cars are to be fitted with headlights for a night race, is that the first time any F1 car used headlights??

why don't we watch and get contented with the Singapore Circuit for now, OK??