ALthough the lights did set off the paint jobs of the cars so they looked awesome, I really can’t say that I thought being held at night added anything to it.

Perhaps it was so that it would be a bit cooler for the fans than sitting out in those unshaded grandstands during the heat of the day?

I think one is enough – even too many if truth be told. Just a gimmick, and what we want is racing, not image and trickery.

I do have a couple of awesome shots of the the cars at sunset though, which I’ll post on the drop io at sidepodcast if anyone is interested in seeing them.

Now putting one on at night is like watching a race in the Dartford tunnel. I’m sure the spectacle was great if you were there, but for once I find myself in agreement with Sig.Luca and not with Mr.Ron – just one a year is more than enough for me.

I find it interesting that Sepang apaprently has ruled out the night racing concept, as I thought they would do anything to keep Bernie happy (don’t they pay the highest sanctioning fee for their GP each season?)In terms of Japan, I know the GP is supposed to alternate between Suzuka and Fuji, so is Bernie pushing one or both of these venues to go under the lights in the future?

next time let it rain.

If that is your mindset, why have Formula 1 races at all? Who needs petrol heads burning fuel and rubber like no tomorrow. Then… let’s look at Football. Why play games at night, just make every game of every league a daytime match! Where does it end? That only enviro friendly sports and activities should be indulged in? – Give me a break!!

I think you’ve taken it slightly out of context – the point I was making is that the environment issues and cost didn’t produce a mind blowing experience (for me, at least). I’m not going to do much about the environment in that respect, but after the race I felt it was just an excercise – worth watching to see what it was like, but I’m not convinced it’s worth all the while. In the end, it was a city that lights itself up at night anyway, so what’s another 3.18MWatt over the weekend, right?

I’m not going to protest over another night race, the cars look magnificent at night, but I think F1 needs to pump money on making the actual racing better rather than into shiny lights.

If I was that much an environmentalist I probably wouldn’t support F1 at all, but everyone’s conscious of the environment in their own way and offset it in different ways and views. Keith’s revelations about the lights coming from fossil fuel sources is also another subject – F1 has been, and should continue to be, the showcase of the pinnacle of technology…and this should extend past the cars themselves in areas such as safety, and in the case of night races: lighting and power. For which the Abu Dubai concept sounds good if it is to be run through hydrogen.

And I think F1, and indeed most other motorsport, has to show environmental concerns because we’re not all going to be burning fuel forever like we once did.