F1 Night race Possible, says Tilke

The first ever night race in Formula 1 has moved a step closer after circuit designer Hermann Tilke said it was now possible to successfully stage and televise such an event.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone recently said that one or two night-time races could on the cards by the end of the decade – with Japan and China in the frame to host them.

And now in an interview with Autosport magazine, Tilke says that advances in both lighting and camera technology mean night racing is now a feasible option for F1 on its current circuits.

“The basic problem is lighting,” he told the magazine.

“The tracks don’t need to change – you just need to have the space to install the lighting system.

“You also need a certain amount of brightness to allow TV cameras to show the cars property – not as blurry streaks!

“But there have been tremendous developments in lighting and camera technology, so I don’t see it being a problem.”

The onset of night racing at grands prix in the Far East would likely prove to be a hit with European TV viewers in particular, with races moved into a more traditional afternoon slot.

And F1 would not be the first major motorsport series to experiment with racing under floodlights, with American series’ NASCAR, Champ Car and IndyCar already having hosted night-time events.

Source: ITV.com/F1

That's really nice! I would love to see the cars roaring through the corners at night.

Lighting is a problem. If there was to be a night race, there would high to be very high watt lights all around the track which costs money. A night race would be very cool however.stevo1000

i agree lighting will be problem 4 nowSMUboi

“But there have been tremendous developments in lighting and camera technology, so I don’t see it being a problem.”

The point that makes NASCAR and Indy 500 available in night time is that they all have bowl like circuits. Light can be focused at one spot only. In F1 however, we have circuits like Spa and Suzuka were they twist around a lot. It is quite a problem for the light as they have to be positioned porperly to ensure adequate lighting is achieved. The only circuit I see possible in doing this is Indianapolis alone.Napster06

yeh but wat about Le Mans and GT championship? i remember watching those guys fly through Eau Rouge at fast speeds in the middle of the night and it was amazing to watch

Try night races in Monaco, lool :lol: aloushi87

wow the ultimate carbreaker!

[QUOTE="aloushi87"]Try night races in Monaco, lool :lol:QUOTE]

The ideal one for a night race at the moment is indy, reason is beacuse it already hosts IRL, NASCAR night races. the only downside is, us brits will have to stay up till like 12-1am to watch it.kipi19

having then on the car isn't feesible in my opinion, it would ruin the aerodynamics serverly. kipi19

Not possible, it would be fast, too dark, and the lights on the side of the track would flare them up. :P.
kipi19

[QUOTE="Napster06"]The point that makes NASCAR and Indy 500 available in night time is that they all have bowl like circuits. Light can be focused at one spot only. In F1 however, we have circuits like Spa and Suzuka were they twist around a lot. It is quite a problem for the light as they have to be positioned porperly to ensure adequate lighting is achieved. The only circuit I see possible in doing this is Indianapolis alone.BlaZe_irl

Le Mans cars have headlights. I know it was cool, but I don't think racing around in the dark at 300 km/h is cool.

Unless if the have flourescent strips at the front and rear wing. :D

tilke has allready wrecked f1 with bahrain, hockenheim and sepang circuits. Turkey is a rare sucess. But seriously, who is really looking forward to suzuka? ive had enough of tilke, i dont think that imola would be off this year if it were'nt for his tracks.

[QUOTE="BlaZe_irl"]

[QUOTE="Napster06"]The point that makes NASCAR and Indy 500 available in night time is that they all have bowl like circuits. Light can be focused at one spot only. In F1 however, we have circuits like Spa and Suzuka were they twist around a lot. It is quite a problem for the light as they have to be positioned porperly to ensure adequate lighting is achieved. The only circuit I see possible in doing this is Indianapolis alone.Napster06

Le Mans cars have headlights. I know it was cool, but I don't think racing around in the dark at 300 km/h is cool.

Unless if the have flourescent strips at the front and rear wing. :D

... I mean if NASCAR's needed them... BlaZe_irl

[QUOTE="BlaZe_irl"]... I mean if NASCAR's needed them... icytower38

lol seriously? ive never watched a NASCAR race in my life so i wouldnt of known thatBlaZe_irl

Probably hard to tell, but it's the best I could do at the moment.