What chance Singapore could be wet? Been a few years since I was last there but I can remember the rain setting in every afternoon and continueing into the evenning. Although the monsoon proper starts in november officially its humid with showers all year round. Jarno Trulli has revealed that Formula 1's drivers are concerned' about the sport's inaugural night race to be held in Singapore at the end of next month suggesting that the event may be not exactly what you really want from a safety point-of-view'. The race will be held under floodlights around a concrete-lined street circuit in the city-state but without the opportunity for any pre-weekend testing under the artificial lighting. What's more, there is a high chance of heavy rain, and the official timetable still has yet to be confirmed, with fears there will be precious little evening practice time allocated. At the moment we still don't know what the schedule of the weekend will be, Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) stalwart Trulli stated. We are a little bit concerned we go there, we haven't tested, we don't have any idea..It's going to be a night race, it's going to be the rainy season, so it's not exactly what you really want from a safety point-of-view. It doesn't look comfortable so far. The GPDA F1's driver safety union is seemingly worried that the combination of the track's concrete walls, the lack of visibility and the potential for a wet grand prix could prove to be a dangerous cocktail, and Toyota star Trulli stressed that little could be drawn from MotoGP's first-ever night race experience in Qatar earlier this year. Riding a bike is different to driving a car, the experienced Italian underlined, and they were racing on a circuit and we are racing on a street circuit. They had run-off and we have walls.
A lot of the modern F1 drivers seem to moan and complain about everything ! Instead of seeing things like a night race a new challenge, they moan casue they feel like there being pushed out there comfort zone ! For Trulli to imply that driving a modern F1 car is more dangerous then a Moto gp bike is just hilarious, they are both highly dangerous sports, and both have the potential for serious injury or fatality, but u just have to look at the amount of Moto riders at anyone time who race with broken bones and injurys so see what is the more dangerous form of racing !!! I really hope that the singapore race is not wet tho, as i received my tickets for the race last weekend But on the other hand, i have still to see a wet f1 race live!!!
Is visibility going to be that much of an issue? I imagine the track is going to be lit up like daytime... this ain't Le Mans, Jarno.
A dry track at night with all the flood lights should be fine. It'd be a lot like a stadium event. I wonder how it would be in the wet. How much would all the glare and shimmering affect visibility?
If they feel it's an important issue, than it is what it is. It's easy to sit back and talk like they're little girls, but at the end of the day, they have the right to be concerned about their safety.
I certainly hope that GP weekend is nothing like last w.e, as we had 3 straight days of CONSTANT rain; some of it drizzle but some of it hard core low visibility monsoon type rain. It's hard enuf to drive around in that during the day let alone at night, and I'd imagine with the lights reflecting off the spray, driving an F1 cud be a little hazardous. Preparations seems to be going along smoothly, altho I must admit a little slower than I expected. Road surfacing has finished and the lights have been erected on probably 80% of the circuit thus far (they haven't been tested yet as far as I know). Still alot of work to be done on temporary grandstands though. If I get a chance I might attempt to take some pics to show you some of the preparations.
Derek, I remember exactly what you described. That's why Trulli's comment caught my attention. There's an effect where bright lights are refracted in the individual raindrops from certain angles creating a visual curtain. I know a lot of work went into eliminating shadows and eye level lighting but the more variables are added the more compromise results. One fairly average outcome could be a pace car parade. If so, there's a driver that'll earn his pay cheque.
i dunno bout Singapore, but it's been raining here everyday. and it rains from evening sometimes till the next morning. regarding the night race, it's not really a night race. the lights will light up the entire circuit 4 times brighter than a football stadium. so, whoevers going there, don't forget ur shades
Your 100% correct , they do have a right to be concerned about there safety, and these concerns have led to F1 being relatively safe, with the energy's involved there is always the chance of a freak accident. But there has been racing all over the world for a very long time, held in the dark, in the rain, some under flood lighting, some not, its not a new thing, just because its new to F1.
I have been on holiday a few times to fairly neighbouring countries (IE maldives, sri lanka). It wasnt uncommon that all of a sudden a whole lot of rain came down...and just as quickly disappear again! i reckon, with the flood lights, IF it rains glare can be a major issue.
It all depends on how high above the track the lights standards are set otherwise it will be a problem. Its going to be an interesting race for sure. Cant wait.
Yes, but F1 speeds are a bit different that any other racing. Even at Le mans where the main prototypes get up to high speed on the long straight, those are still big prototypes. Single seater racing is more dangerous than being in a big prototype or touring car, and F1 is the quickest form of it. So, adding things like night races and then a contribution of possible rain, has to be taken in the right way. Believe me, these aren't wussies we're talking about here, it's warranted concern.
They were testing the lighting on the circuit last night for the first time and I must admit I was a little surprised that it wasn't as bright as I had expected, especially in some of the corners. Admittedly not all the lighting is in place (not until the road closures are in place) as yet so that may improve things somewhat. Overall preparation are really taking shape and it is starting to look like a real race track. Can't wait 'til Sept 28!
