F1 night race concept to go to China, Korea

Posted Mon Mar 24 2008 4:16 PM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Bernie Ecclestone is now hoping to install night races in China and South Korea, after revealing on Sunday that Malaysia has finally agreed to floodlighting the Sepang circuit from 2009. "We'll speak to the people in China, see what we can do there," the 77-year-old F1 chief executive is quoted as saying by the news agency Bloomberg.

Singapore will host F1's first ever night race in September, and South Korea is due to join the annual grand prix calendar in 2010.

"Obviously when we race in South Korea, it will be good to have a night race," said the Briton, who argues that night time events in Asia will bolster the key European television audience.

Ecclestone admits that he is having trouble convincing Australia to farewell daylight racing, but seemed unfazed at the prospect of a "divorce" with the southern country.

"There's no kids involved so we haven't got a big problem," he joked.

Malaysian organisers, on the other hand, "know it is necessary" to switch to a night race, Ecclestone said, flagging a later than 7pm start and insisting that Sepang bear the costs.

Reader Comments

Mon Mar 24 2008 6:37 PM
Gus says

Night racing must be tough, depth perception is one of the most important tools for driving fast, and at night it's almost taken away...
Mon Mar 24 2008 7:34 PM
Sir Yappie says

And thats why we Ozzies are counting down til Bernie finally kicks the bucket and someone with passion for the sport and not the almighty dollar takes the reigns of F1.
It will become a joke if Australia loses the F1 on the basis that we wont go to a night time circuit.
Mon Mar 24 2008 8:33 PM
MARK says

NIGHT time racing is crazy for F1. All the talk of safety in F1 and they want a night time race. Well I guess when an F1 driver crashes and dies the world might take a dim view on bernie
Tue Mar 25 2008 5:41 AM
Ian says

I love watching F1 and have followed it for years. Are you sure about going to China? There Human right need looking at, I don't think we should go to the Olimpics eather. Someone should stand up for the people and not the glory of the almity Pound.
Tue Mar 25 2008 5:38 PM
Sir Yappie says

driving at night is harder as it is...and considering the speeds that these guys will be going it will be worse...

Like Mark said...its a cash cow that will die a sudden death when a driver loses their life due to the no lack of traction control and the addition of flouresent lighting....
It will be sad day and we can all see it coming.....why cant the money men !
Sat Mar 29 2008 11:04 AM
NaBUru38 says

Crazier is that they are increasing the percentage of biofuel and talk about environmental measures, and now they want floodlights illuminating 5km2 during four weekends. Beautiful, but insane.
Tue Apr 8 2008 4:13 PM
bitch says

nice

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