Should F1 hold more night races?
30th September 2008, 13:00 by Keith Collantine 56 Comments »
Jarno Trulli races in the dark - should F1 have more of this?
The first ever F1 race held at night went very well at Singapore. None of the pre-event concerns over the use of artificial light came to pass.
Bernie Ecclestone is keen for F1 to have more night races in the future. He’s urging the Japanese to hold their event as a night race. Malaysia had considered it, but it now seems to have persuaded Ecclestone that the cost would be too great.
Do you think F1 should hold more races at night?
I thought the spectacle of holding a race at night was brilliant and you can’t deny the race gave us some fantastic images (see here, here and here).
But as Checkpoint 10 points out that what’s good for Europe isn’t necessarily good for the rest of the world:
The Singapore race was run at night just to allow European viewers to watch the race at their usual time, which happens to be the ungodly hour of 5:00am Pacific time, or 4:30am if you want to watch the pre-race show. Does Bernie Ecclestone hate Californians?
There are other concerns about night racing yet to be resolved: can night races be run safely in the wet? And what about the environmental impact of powering all those lights?
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DG said on 30th September 2008, 13:18
Ron Dennis is being quoted on ITV-F1 as saying that maybe a European circuit could hold a night race, just because of the spectacle the lights create.
However, I don’t see Silverstone being able to afford it, or Donnington. Monaco is probably the only place worth doing it, but wouldn’t that also clash with Le Mans? And it would be too similar to Singapore. Valencia might be more impressive at night?
Perhaps its a thought for any future US Grand Prix – you might be able to forgive them if it was held in a Las Vegas parking lot again!
graham228221 said on 30th September 2008, 13:24
i thought the spectacle was really great, and it worked well.
maybe one or two more night races, additional to singapore, but anymore than that would ruin the novelty factor.
Matt said on 30th September 2008, 13:26
If you have too many night races, the novelty factor wears out. I think there should be a max of 2 races run at night (Singapore and Japan in that case). Also, if some European races were to run at night, that would be really inconvenient for the Asian TV audience, which Bernie is currently favouring, as they would have to wake up at ridiculous times of the day.
_Ben_ said on 30th September 2008, 13:32
If they want the Singapore race to be regarded up there with Monaco in terms of glamour and spectacle then the best way to do this is to make it the only night race.
I absolutly loved the race at the weekend (especially the old school sparks from the back of the cars!) and feel the novelty value would be lost of we had 3 or 4 more night races.
I actually enjoy getting up at wierd hours for races (Looking forward the Fuji!) It also means I don’t need to be sitting watching tv in the middle of the day when I can be outside! It gives the races a strange unreal feeling somehow. x
Sumedh said on 30th September 2008, 13:42
Night races make sense commercially.. Think laser shows, fire works before and after the races.. A rock Concert immediately after the race.. Late night parties immediately after the race..
But environmentally.. hmm..
Lustigson said on 30th September 2008, 14:09
@ Checkpoint 10
Well, Australia and the Asian races all start between 04.00 and 08.00 Central European Time. That hasn’t stopped me from watching them, though.
@ Sumedh
A good point, but how does lighting up a street circuit in Asia compare to a couple of tens of millions of viewers switching on their living room lights in Europe? That might add up.
Alex Cooper said on 30th September 2008, 14:15
I enjoyed Singapore but I think you could overdo it on the night races – daylight races can be fun to!
This before you consider the environmental impact.
Nick said on 30th September 2008, 14:30
One is enough imo…without the safety car, would people really be talking about the race if Massa & Kimi finished 1st and 2nd?
Chalky said on 30th September 2008, 14:33
Agree. Singapore night race is unique. I think it should be kept that way. But I’d just keep it to Singapore though.
Have to agree with _Ben_ on that one. Getting up early hasn’t been a problem for me and actually makes it easier to see a GP.
So I’m for no more night races. Just keep it at Singapore.
Gareth said on 30th September 2008, 14:35
I thought that the night race was a fantastic spectacle. Too many and the novelty of a race at night will surely wear off.
Keep the concept as a once a season, maybe twice, but no more than that. You can have too much of a good thing.
Adrian said on 30th September 2008, 14:45
I’m actually in favour of the asian races staying in the afternoon local time. My girlfriend is not a fan of F1 and I have had to miss more than 1 GP this year to keep her happy because the weather has been so crappy in general that when the Sunday has been nice she wants to go out. Thankfully she also enjoys lazing in bed until around 11am on her day off so that means that I get no arguement whatsoever when I get up early and go sit downstairs to watch the Aussie, Malaysian, Japanese and Chinese GP’s. And we usually go to her parents for tea so her Dad holds sway over the TV at the times that USA, Canadian and Brazillian GP’s are on, so no arguements there either!! All for more Asian or American GP’s so long as they’re not held at 1pm UK time!!
Wasn’t part of Ron Dennis’s arguement for night races in Europe based around the fact that the races held in the evening draw larger viewing figures??
marco said on 30th September 2008, 15:02
I am a European and I loved this GP !!! The lit-up track was just amazing and if i was living in Cal, I think i would have gotten up for it ! (As I used to do for other GP) !!!
LJH - Brits on Pole said on 30th September 2008, 15:11
The time is probably fast upon us when the very existence of this sport is going to have to be justified to those who believe the environmental costs are too great. Even the FIA recognises this – and that’s really saying something.
The ‘carbon cost’ of lighting circuits may be paltry compared to things like air-freighting the teams and their equipment around.
However, the element of spectacle that is attracting so much praise also means it an extremely visible use of arguably unnecessary resources. It is, in short, an easy target and the whole thing could so easily backfire.
It could be that the symbolic environmental cost of night-racing is much more harmful to the sport than its actual cost. Not necessarily a wise direction to go in, unless Greenpeace protestors hanging off the pit wall to unfurl banners is your idea of entertainment.
TooGood said on 30th September 2008, 15:17
I have written in another forums. As a novelty factor. One race on calendar is good. If Greedy Bernie tries to overdo it, it will be a bust.
Second Point is – Race makes a great spectacle for TV viewers, Trackside the atmosphere will be same for fans in grandstand may it be day race or night race. Having said that. Only street circuits with City Skyline will make a good spectacle. I can’t imagine a middle of nowhere dedicated circuit like Magny or Sepang hosting a night race. everytime there is Helicopter shot, there is nothing to see but brightly lit track.
Another factor is local response – Having lived in Singapore a state controlled Country, only people in State Controlled Setup will put with late night Light and Sound Pollution.
Activists in Democracies and environmentalists will not make hosting night race a easier task.
Residents in Melbourne have voiced their concerns about inconvenience caused by the OZ GP
GeorgeK said on 30th September 2008, 15:17
No more night races, not even Singapore. If the product is not viably entertaining on it’s own, fix the product. Don’t put lipstick on a pig.