How Formula One Has Risen to Challenge of Inaugural Night Race

Floodlights, rain and the fastest corner on a street circuit: Singapore will bring an audacious new dimension to formula one on Sunday when it stages the first world championship grand prix to be held after dark, and the challenges and opportunities the race presents to drivers and money-makers are being eagerly grasped.

Commercially the race is maximizing exposure both by being the first under lights and by starting at a decent time for European audiences, and the event organizers are confident of making a big success of their five-race deal. "We will be able to deliver an unforgettable formula one experience," said Singapore GP's deputy chairman, Colin Syn. "We are working with highly qualified technical teams, as well as the tremendous cooperation of the government agencies. There are many advantages to holding a night race. The later start time will ensure maximum exposure of the race in Singapore to the important European television markets while in Asia, too, a late Sunday evening broadcast gains maximum market exposure."

The list of unknowns facing the teams and drivers is likely to be exacerbated by the rain that is expected over the weekend. The new circuit is just over 5km (3.2 miles), incorporating 23 corners, and includes iconic landmarks such as the Singapore Flyer big wheel, the Esplanade and Raffles Boulevard. Competitors will travel over Anderson Bridge, under a grandstand and through the 190mph turn six, which is claimed to be the fastest on any formula one street circuit.

Unlike at Le Mans, the cars will not have headlights. Instead around 1,500 lights have been installed to ensure near-daylight conditions. The likelihood of rain increased following a heavy downpour over the city yesterday and has added another dimension to already unusual preparations. The issue of reflective glare, not only from the lights illuminating the circuit but also from camera flash bulbs, could pose a visibility problem when added to rain, so much so that the German helmet manufacturer Schubert has developed a special visor to be used by their contracted drivers including Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld.

McLaren have also developed new headwear. "If it rains, there is the unknown of whether there will be a problem with glare or the sparkle of light from droplets of rain that is greater than you would ordinarily get," said Martin Whitmarsh, the team's chief executive. "To manage this potential, we are using coatings for the visors that won't allow droplets to collect."

Ross Brawn, the Honda team principal, said that weather will be a key factor. "It will be hot, wet and very humid and local statistics tell us that there is a 50% chance of rain on any given day in September. These are difficult conditions to work in for both the team and the drivers; however, it could lead to some very exciting on-track moments."

Teams have been using a simulator to get used to the new track but will not know how tyre degradation and pit-lane time loss will be affected until their cars drive on the circuit tomorrow. "The circuit itself is tight, twisty and very narrow in places and it will be even slower than Monaco," said Brawn. "Both our drivers have been working on the simulator at our Brackley headquarters which assists with learning the track layout, gears and downforce levels.

"We have done a great deal of research into racing under lights, particularly at the Moto GP race [also under floodlights] earlier this year, and our sporting director visited the Singapore track for the lighting test and was very impressed with the facilities."

Many members of the Toyota team have accumulated experience of competing at night from the team's outings in the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar classic, while others, such as their driver Timo Glock, have experienced it elsewhere in their careers. Glock competed under lights during his 2005 season racing Champ cars in the US, when he finished eighth in a 400km race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, so he is more prepared than most of his rivals for the challenge ahead.

"The main issue is that you are driving at a different time of day," he said. "Normally you would be resting in an evening but in Singapore the race will start at 8pm. They will give us as much light as possible but as it is a night race I don't expect it will be like daylight in every corner. That is fine, though."

Lewis Hamilton brushed aside any worries that adapting to the different schedule would be an undue problem. "The race will be quite a fun challenge, and I like a challenge," said Hamilton. "I've never raced at night before, but I don't think it is going to be a problem. It doesn't seem to be a problem in other sports, and there have been huge preparations for this, so I think it will be great."

Yet the Singapore race has not been greeted with universal approval, with the Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo, questioning its suitability for inclusion in the formula one championship schedule. Montezemolo's objections are not based on the Singapore event being a night race under floodlights, but on his belief that expanding the number of street circuits on the calendar is not the most appropriate course for the future of the world championship. Specifically, he cited the disappointing standard of racing on the new Valencia street circuit where, although Felipe Massa's Ferrari emerged victorious, the event was both processional and dull. "I have the impression it will be another one of those let-downs where you cannot overtake, like Valencia," he said recently. "Going forward with these circuits heralds a bad future for formula one."

Time travellers

Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen will follow routines in Singapore designed to keep their body clocks on European time

Friday September 26

13.30 local time 06.30BST Get up

19.00 12.00 First F1 practice

21.30 14.30 Second F1 practice

01.00 18.00 Dinner

03.00 20.00 To bed

Saturday September 27

13.30 06.30 Get up

19.00 12.00 Third F1 practice

22.00 15.00 F1 qualifying

01.00 18.00 Dinner

03.00 20.00 To bed

Sunday September 28

14.00 07.00 Get up

20.00 13.00 Grand prix start

01.30 18.30 Dinner

03.00 20.00 To bed - or party