- 27 Sep 08, 11:33#68346
Oh dear. Not only would this detract from Singapore's unique element, but it would potentially ruin the atmosphere of the Japanese grand prix and make Suzuka pointless (in the fact that it looks beautiful, but you wouldn't be able to tell when only the track itself is lit up).
Furthermore, very few people actually care that races in Australia, Malaysia, Japan and China mean we have to get up quite early - it's part of the fun and has become a sort of tradition amongst F1 fans.
Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone wants the Japanese Grand Prix to become the second night race on the calendar.
Singapore will host the first-ever floodlit evening GP this weekend, and the event has so far received a very enthusiastic response from the F1 fraternity.
Now Ecclestone wants the Japanese race, which will alternate between Suzuka and Fuji from next year, to follow suit.
"We’re going to try and get Japan to do it," Bernie told BBC Radio Five Live.
"I hope when people see this, they realise it wasn’t such a stupid idea after all."
When asked if he expected Japan to become a night race as early as next year, Ecclestone replied: "I hope so."
He reiterated that the main impetus behind his night racing push was not to create a new spectacle, but so that European television viewers did not have to get up in the early hours to watch the GPs.
"It was so we’d get good TV in Europe," said Ecclestone.
"Our biggest audience is in Europe, so that would be ideal for us.
"It’s going to be prime time in China and in this part of the world; and in Europe it will be a sociable hour to watch rather than the middle of the night."
The Australian, Malaysian and Chinese GPs are the other events that require European viewers to get up overnight, and there has already been a long debate with the Melbourne authorities over whether their race could make a night GP.
The Albert Park authorities have attempted to compromise by starting the race late in the afternoon local time.
Ecclestone said he had no particular expectations about the inaugural night race in Singapore tomorrow.
"You can’t tell what a race is going to be like; anything can happen," he said.
"I hope it’s a good race – at least it will be different, that’s for sure."
Furthermore, very few people actually care that races in Australia, Malaysia, Japan and China mean we have to get up quite early - it's part of the fun and has become a sort of tradition amongst F1 fans.
