25/07/2008
NEWS STORY
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Attending a promotional event for Vodafone in Mumbai, Lewis Hamilton took time out to talk about one of two new events on the F1 calendar, the Singapore Grand Prix, which takes place on 26-28 September and will be run at night. The World Championship leader admits that he expects the track, which runs through the streets of the Central Business District of Singapore, will be "tricky and technical".
"It's difficult to imagine what a night race will be like," the McLaren driver told Reuters. "Then doing it on circuits with brick walls everywhere. I think it will be very technical, and very tricky for overtaking... shadows and everything.
"It is an unknown circuit," he continued. "But what I will do is to get there early. I'll run the circuit, I'll walk it with my engineers. Maybe the street will be open to the public and so we can drive around. Really just making sure I have covered everything, all the bumps, all the curves."
The other new venue on the 2008 calendar is Valencia, where once again, F1 cars will race through the streets as opposed to a purpose built track. In coming years, as Bernie Ecclestone attempts to take F1 into new territories, races are planned in Abu Dhabi and then India.
On his was up the 'racing ladder', Hamilton has already raced on a number of tracks that play host to Formula One Grand Prix. Therefore he admits that these new tracks pose a special challenge for terams and drivers.
"We have this year a couple of circuits we have never seen before," he said. "It is a real challenge. When we arrive on the Friday at the Grand Prix we have two hours practice, which is really 30 laps a session, not a long time. Then we have Saturday's straight qualifying. There's hardly any time to be able to change the tyres, and we have over thousands of dollars in the car we've changed, so knowing which one to change, which one to fill up, where you are, and me... I've got out there and learn the circuit as well.
"For me I think it is a distinct advantage because I learn circuits so quickly," he added.
Many thanks to Pitpass reader Uditvanu Das for the pictures.
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