F1 tests new lighting system down under

[inpitlane]

Mark Webber and Motorcycle legend Mick Doohan were on hand to test a new Australian designed portable track lighting system at Melbourne's Calder Park.
The new system designed by Hella Australia was tested under the gaze of the FIA and a team from FOM media.
Picture and story at www.pitlanepr.com/inpitlane

[Burnsie]

In a recent edition of F1 Racing magazine (November issue I think) there was a fascinating article on the logistics involved in staging F1's first night race - the 2008 Singapore GP. The main points that came across to me were:

(a) the lights must not cause glare to the drivers or marshals,
(b) long shadows should not be cast from the cars (for TV purposes I presume)
(c) only ONE side of the track will have lights, but the whole track must be evenly illuminated,
(d) even if a car spins and is pointing in the wrong direction, the driver should not be facing directly into a light

Mark Webber recently appealed to Australians - motorsport fans and Melbourne residents in particular - to support the Aussie GP or risk losing it. From the photograph of Calder Park those lights appear to be very dazzling, but I'm sure they wouldn't be using them if they didn't fit the FIA's criteria. So perhaps staging the race at night - at a time more suitable to European audiences - would help the cause. It would be a terrible shame if we lost Australia from the F1 calendar as it's one of the races I look forward to each year, and will always get up (or stay up!) to watch it live. I hope their project is a success!

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by burnsie

In a recent edition of F1 Racing magazine (November issue I think) there was a fascinating article on the logistics involved in staging F1's first night race - the 2008 Singapore GP. The main points that came across to me were:

(a) the lights must not cause glare to the drivers or marshals,
(b) long shadows should not be cast from the cars (for TV purposes I presume)
(c) only ONE side of the track will have lights, but the whole track must be evenly illuminated,
(d) even if a car spins and is pointing in the wrong direction, the driver should not be facing directly into a light

Mark Webber recently appealed to Australians - motorsport fans and Melbourne residents in particular - to support the Aussie GP or risk losing it. From the photograph of Calder Park those lights appear to be very dazzling, but I'm sure they wouldn't be using them if they didn't fit the FIA's criteria. So perhaps staging the race at night - at a time more suitable to European audiences - would help the cause. It would be a terrible shame if we lost Australia from the F1 calendar as it's one of the races I look forward to each year, and will always get up (or stay up!) to watch it live. I hope their project is a success!

The most interesting thing about the excersice I think was the fact that it only took 11 hours to set up. Calder Park is a lot smaller than the the GP track but still it's an impressive set up time.
I'm going to contact Leanne Tander at some stage and see if she has any feedback as she was the one driving the real race car and in the wet as well.
I take it they used recycled water, or otherwise that was one serious breach of our water restrictions.

[MacMan]

so instead of the world having to suit the Americans now, everyone has to make viewing times more suitable for the Europeans? and there was me thinking that F1 was a global sport, oh well. They should look at having a few night races in Europe as well then

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by MacMan

They should look at having a few night races in Europe as well then

Good idea.

TBH I'd prefer that one or two of them were as it would free up a few more Sunday afternoons!

More details about the Singapore night race.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=33545

[Burnsie]

Originally Posted by MacMan

so instead of the world having to suit the Americans now, everyone has to make viewing times more suitable for the Europeans? and there was me thinking that F1 was a global sport, oh well. They should look at having a few night races in Europe as well then

I agree with you completely! But the point to remember is that while F1 is a global sport, FOM is a ruthless blue-chip business which aims to maximise profits wherever possible - and I don't think that I'm being overly cynical by saying that. Television revenue contributes to a large part of their revenue, so changing race times to suit the majority of the viewers (or the viewers from countries which pay Bernie more for broadcasting rights) probably makes logical business sense. As does staging Grands Prix in countries with little or no motor racing history, but rich in wealth. You know the ones I mean.

Personally I would watch a race whether it started at 1:00pm or 3:00am, and I'd like to think that most true F1 supporters would too. And to pick up on your final point about staging a night-race in Europe, if it works in Singapore why not stage the Valencia street-race in the dark too??

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by MacMan

so instead of the world having to suit the Americans now, everyone has to make viewing times more suitable for the Europeans? and there was me thinking that F1 was a global sport, oh well. They should look at having a few night races in Europe as well then

Most of the F1 fans are in Europe. I'd personally like to see the Aussie GP ran under lights and quite possibly some of the Asian ones as well.

Potentially, some European races could be ran under floodlights at 7.30 pm or something. Champions League andrexball gets good ratings ...

[PVDA]

Further info here

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...-11088,00.html

[Yannick]

I think the whole idea of night racing in F1 is just a novelty. I mean it's totally opposed to the planned concepts of energy efficiency in engines, because it's an unnecessary waste of energy. It'll probably become a fad when the novelty effect has worn off.
In fact, I think the races should all be held at daylight.

[MCWB]

Originally Posted by PVDA

Further info here

Hmm, "Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber tests the lighting at Calder Park"... in Leanne Tander's F304 wearing her helmet?

[zac510]

Originally Posted by Yannick

I think the whole idea of night racing in F1 is just a novelty. I mean it's totally opposed to the planned concepts of energy efficiency in engines, because it's an unnecessary waste of energy. It'll probably become a fad when the novelty effect has worn off.
In fact, I think the races should all be held at daylight.

Of course you're completely ignoring the commercial reasons for running the race at night..

[Sodemo]

The track will be so bright and overlit due to ridiculously high safety standards that it will be probably brighter than racing in the day.

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by MCWB

Hmm, "Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber tests the lighting at Calder Park"... in Leanne Tander's F304 wearing her helmet?

There's an obvious gag in there but I'm not going there

[Dixie Flatline]

TBH, I'd rather lose the Australian Grand Prix than see it being raced under lights. It's even less environmentally friendly than a typical Formula One race in an age where environmental concerns are high on the agenda. It would promote drunken behaviour at the circuit and it would definitely not be family friendly.

[RotorFan]

Originally Posted by MCWB

Hmm, "Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber tests the lighting at Calder Park"... in Leanne Tander's F304 wearing her helmet?

And she didn't even get a mention in the article.