Singapore "Fairly Confident" Of Holding F1 Race At Night, Pending Approval: Official

Source : AsiaOne News, Aug 31, 2007

SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore is confident its proposal to hold the first ever Formula One night grand prix will be approved by motorsport authorities, an official said Friday.

The city-state announced in May it was joining the Formula One circuit next year and would stage the first race on Sept. 28 - possibly at night - subject to approval by the FIA, world motorsport's governing body.

Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said Singapore was making efforts to assure the FIA that holding the race at night in this skyscraper-filled metropolis would be safe.

"We're committed to doing whatever is necessary - the lighting levels, the road conditions - to make sure it is safe," Lim said. "The various tests and the various assessments have been going on track, so we're fairly confident."

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has said he wants several night races on the F1 calendar - especially in Asia - to make broadcast times more accessible to European and North American television viewers.

The proposal has met with mixed responses from teams and drivers, with safety concerns the main issue as F1 cars do not have headlights and reach speeds of more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) per hour.

The FIA is also expected to finalize Singapore's race route next month, Lim said. The 5.2-kilometer (3-mile) proposed circuit winds along streets lined with high-rise buildings and newly restored, British colonial-era mansions.

The pit complex, housing garages, the race control center and the winners' podium, is scheduled to be completed at the end of May.

The city-state has the rights to hold the race for five years - with the option for the Formula One Administration to extend for a further five years - and expects annual tourism receipts from the event of about 100 million Singapore dollars (US$65.9 million; euro48.72 million).

The race is part of Singapore's efforts to boost tourism revenues, along with the construction of two casino resorts expected to contribute S$2.7 billion (US$1.77 billion; €1.3 billion) to the economy.