Singapore GP 2008 confirmed

  • Thread starter Thread starter m7ammed
  • 14 comments
  • 749 views
m7ammed

m7ammed

Messages
1,565
Saudi Arabia
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Messages
m7ammed84
Well I call this the weekend of GP annoucments :D:D

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=39177


Singapore is to stage Formula 1’s first night-time race in 2008 after the country confirmed a five-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone on Friday.
The Southeast Asian country will have the honour of hosting F1’s first race under floodlights, with the inaugural event on a new street circuit pencilled in for next September or October.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation about whether Singapore would feature on next year’s calendar and is the second new street race to be added to the 2008 schedule in as many days, after Valencia confirmed its own grand prix from next season.
“I am very pleased to welcome Singapore to the Formula 1 family and we look forward to this exotic addition to the championship,” Ecclestone said.
“This will be the first fully lit street race in Formula 1.
“As a night race we anticipate it will quickly establish itself as one of the most dramatic and atmospheric races on our calendar.
“I know the Formula 1 drivers, teams and fans are all looking forward to coming to Singapore next year.”
The race will take place on public roads around the downtown Marina Bay area, with the race proposals including powerful lighting systems that will replicate daylight conditions and stringent safety measures to ensure both driver and spectator safety.

“It will be more than just a motor race,” said Singapore's minister of state for trade and industry, Mr S Iswaran.

“We envision it to be a national festival, and one that presents many opportunities for participation for everyone, both visitors and Singaporeans alike.

“Singaporeans are excited about the race coming to Singapore and I share their enthusiasm.

"Singapore looks forward to welcoming the Formula 1 drivers, teams and fans to Singapore next year.”
Click to expand...
 
Mr. E is really splurging on these new rounds ...

First South Korea for 2010, now Singapore and Valencia for 2008 and a new home for the French Grand Prix starting in 2009, plus talk of an Indian and possibly a Russian round in the near future.
 
Night race to, bad idea...can't wait to see the look on Bernie's face if/when something goes horribly wrong racing cars that fast around a street circuit at night
 
I say dont even bother with the forward slash between if and when, its a case of when not if period;):p
 
lol, yeah I think you're right there. Hopefully it'll either fall apart or be moved to the day time before drivers get hurt.
 
Afaik. they've done that in the US on ovals without problems.
I find the idea interesting, - mostly because I won't have to get up very early in the morning to watch it :p
 
Is Singapores electricity supply reliable? I'd have all the floodlights on back up generators tbh, can't take the risk of a powercut whilst driving F1 cars at 190+ mph.
 
Guys ... I think they're going to be smart enough to make sure they've got their bases covered. Bernie wouldn't have authorised it unless he was absolutely sure it was possible, and I doubt the race would be allowed to run until everyone - drivers, teams, organisers, the FIA, etc - is satisfied that the race will be safe. And in the event that something did happen to the lights, I think just about every single driver would be smart enough to get off the racing line and pull up. Plus, I imagine all the lights in the surrounding buildings would be on (just look at Gold Coast Indy; high-rises make for great grandstands), and while it wouldn't be bright enough to race, the drivers aren't suddenly going to find themselves in pitch darkness. Mr. E has also mentioned that if the night format isn't "viable", the race will simply be held during daylight hours.

Barring something extreme such as a terrorist attack, I don't think we have much to worry about.

This is apparently the current circuit plan. I'm a little disappointed that they didn't include the 270-degree corner at Suntec City, but it could change. Also worth noting is that the circuit is anti-clockwise, making it the third race to be run in that direction along with Turkey and Brazil.
 
Yeah, I agree, these guys are not stupid. They will do everything they can to make the race safe. It only makes sense from a commercial point of view to keep the race going for as many years as possible. I am certain a street circuit like this would make money. Fans will come from all over and pay lots to see F1 right up close.

Oh, and if the power comes out the cars will still have the high intensity rain lights flashing at the back, so it’s unlikely that everyone will all of a sudden start running into each other at 300kph… :indiff:
 
And if the drivers are stupid enough to continue without the lights, then we'd all be questioning how they were ever allowed near a go-kart in the first place, let alone a Formula One car. Not even Takuma Sato would keep going (though admittedly, I think Christjian Albers is a bit of an idiot).
 
Blake
Yeah, I agree, these guys are not stupid. They will do everything they can to make the race safe. It only makes sense from a commercial point of view to keep the race going for as many years as possible. I am certain a street circuit like this would make money. Fans will come from all over and pay lots to see F1 right up close.

Oh, and if the power comes out the cars will still have the high intensity rain lights flashing at the back, so it’s unlikely that everyone will all of a sudden start running into each other at 300kph… :indiff:
Click to expand...

If you have someone infront of you....
 
It stands to reason that if you have someone in front of you, they'll be travelling at a similar speed to you. If the lights go out, your reaction times to slowing down will likely be similar, and common sense would dictate moving out of the way as soon as possible. And that would only be a problem if a significant number of lights went out. If one set one out, all that might be needed would be a yellow flag while it gets repaired/backup comes online. If the whole lot went out, there would likely still be ambient light from surrounding buildings. If all of the lights went out, Singapore isn't suddenly going to be thrown into pitch darkness. With the sport being so paranoid about driver safety (and rightfully so), there's going to be plenty of backup systems in place to prevent the disaster everyone seems to be expecting. Stadiums don't suddenly go into darkness, so I don't see why Formula One should be any different. Barring a terrorist attack or a catastrophic power failure, I think the most you'd have to worry about would be a single blown lightbulb in an array of lights.

I think everyone's making a mountain out of a molehill here. The event would not have been organised in such a way if Mr. E, FOM and the FIA felt is was both possible and safe. The race organisers have 18 months to work on the lights and test them, and I'd gamble twelve World Championships that they will continue to update the FIA on their progress and their findings. And should the FIA/FOM/Mr. E feel that it's not safe or not viable, they have stated that the race will revert back to a daytime schedule. Formula One won't be the first test for the lighting system; I daresay other races in lower categories will be run in the darkness to begin with. Besides, ChampCar hasn't had a problem with the night races that they have run, so why should Formula One be any different?

Yes, the power grid may fail (or something). But a meteroite might hit Earth tomorrow (in which case we won't have to worry about power failures at the Singaporean Grand Prix). If you're all so worried that the power is going to go out for no good reason other than because it can, it's a wonder how you manage to travel on the highway at night. You might be going slower than a Formula One car, but when was the last time an entire section of highway was suddenly plunged into darkness?
 
Interesting news, I cant wait to see the floodlight refections bouncing off the Formula 1 cars bodies!!! especially the chrome Mclaren. Will definitely be an amazing race, finally another must watch one like Monaco... Personally I prefer more street circuits to mix things up abit but I love Bahrain, Malaysia and Shanghai.

Can you imagine if it rains, you will get an haze and reflection effect like Special Stage 5 Wet in Gran Turismo!!

Robin
 
The fact is, things happen, you can prepare all you want but it doesn't mean to say something won't happen. You've also got to consider it from a drivers point of view, sometimes it's hard enough to see sitting where they are through the visor in the day time.

But hey maybe you're right, maybe it'll be just fine...then again maybe something will happen and you can get a towel for the egg on your face *shrugs* who knows
 
Maybe I will end up with egg on my face ... but it's more likely you'll be the one needing the towel when things go right despite your dark predictions.
 

Latest Posts

Back