Work has begun in Singapore in anticipation of next year's inaugural Grand Prix, tentatively scheduled to be the first 'night race' in the history of the Formula One World Championship.

Earlier today, at an official ceremony, Lim Hng Kiang, Singapore's trade minister, 'broke ground' on the site of one of the official paddock building's for the race, scheduled to take place next September. The building will host the 36 garages to be occupied by the 12 Grand Prix teams. The site of the building is currently a field by the side of a highway.

"We look forward to the sound of race engines roaring to life," said Kiang, as he got the process underway with the aid of a gold-coloured shovel.

Although the FIA has yet to officially sanction a night race, and numerous drivers are against the idea, Kiang said he was confident the city-state could make F1 history by hosting such an event.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is the man behind the night race proposal, keen to take the money from nations in the east eager to be part of the F1 dream, while maintaining TV viewing figures in the sport's European heartland. A number of drivers have expressed doubts about the idea of a night race.

It is understood that the FIA will hold a test at Paul Ricard next month during which it will investigate the feasibility of such an event. A test was carried out under floodlights at Indianapolis earlier this year.