Sepang gets ready for night racing

Malaysia's Sepang Formula One circuit will be ready for night racing next year, after track officials said last month that they were interesting in running their Grand Prix under lights

Mokhzani Mahathir, chairman of Sepang International Circuit, told the New Straits Times newspaper that discussions were underway to stage night racing at the 5.542-km track on the outskirts of the city.

Singapore is due to host the first ever Formula One night Grand Prix in September on a street circuit.

"We are studying and looking for the best system as there is no one single lighting technology that can fit all tracks. The system must be custom-made for the Sepang circuit," Mokhzani said.

"We are now in discussion with companies which offer such system.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is encouraging Asian circuits to introduce night racing to cater for European fans who due to the time difference are barely awake when cars are on the starting grid for Asian Grands Prix.

Three Asian venues are holding day races in 2008, Malaysia, Japan and China. The Australian Grand Prix kicks off the season on March 16.

Mokhzani said Sepang would put in place a different system from the one used by Singapore, which is a street circuit.

The Singapore set-up is expected to generate 3.2 million watts of power and use 108,423 metres of cable. The strength of lighting is estimated to be four times brighter than that of the floodlights used in top football stadiums.

Malaysia will need similar power and Mokhzani hopes the technology can help expand Sepang's business potential.

"We have also studied the impact of having lighting technology at the circuit and we have come to the conclusion that it will help generate bigger revenue as the circuit can be rented for night racing," he told the paper.