17/10/2007
NEWS STORY
Organisers of the Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for next September, are said to have signed a major contract with a lighting contractor as they focus their efforts on what will probably be the first night race in the history of F1.
In a brief statement, Singapore GP Pte Ltd claimed that it has signed a letter of intent with Italy's Valerio Maioli Spa with a view to designing and constructing the lighting system following two tests at the Paul Ricard circuit in July and September.
According to the statement: "An overall average of about 3000lux levels is required to illuminate the circuit, which is enough to meet High Definition Television broadcast standards. As a result, the track will be almost four times brighter than a typical stadium."
According to Reuters, the proposed system was presented to the FIA on October 10 in Paris.
It's understood that 1,500 lighting projectors, powered by 12 twin-power generators, will be required, with the first on-site test scheduled January.
"Valerio Maioli Spa estimates that the set up would take about two to three months. The system is likely to be set up in the second quarter of 2008," the statement said.