WHILE an outline agreement on the layout of the Singapore Grand Prix track was agreed upon by motor sports' organising body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) last week, one big question still remains.

Will the race be run at night?

The official line is, quite rightly, that safety is paramount and that the final decision on the Grand Prix being run after dark will lie with the FIA Safety Commission, which is set to meet again in Paris in the coming month.

Even then, it is suspected that full approval may not be forthcoming until late this year or even early next year, when yet more tests have been carried out.

The word in the pit lane in Shanghai over the weekend has linked Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone to comments that he is sure a night race will happen.

That has also been echoed by Singapore GP deputy chairman Colin Syn, who is confident that it will stage the race under lights as planned.

"Tests on the lighting at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France in March, and again last month, went well," he said.

"We are still awaiting the official FIA confirmation on whether it will be a night race, but they should be making an announcement in a couple of months to confirm this."

It is not surprising that the FIA seems to be moving at a snail's pace on approving this.

It will be the first Grand Prix anywhere in the world to run under floodlights, and safety, of course, is the priority.
The lights which are likely to illuminate the Sept 28 Singapore Grand Prix will be much brighter than regular street lights.

They have to be bright enough to illuminate the cars sufficiently for TV cameras to get a clear image.

It will be bright enough to take photographs without flash. The lighting will also be very even, with no dark areas of shadow.

It is a very high-tech system, which has required high-powered lighting equipment, custom-designed for every location on the track.

The positioning of these lighting units is also designed to minimise glare and reflections should the track be wet.

The lighting's reliability is also paramount, with triple-redundant power supplies.

But one of the biggest challenges is away from the track - ensuring that all spectators can safely access and leave their viewing areas.

That will require as much work as lighting the track itself.

Interestingly, despite the commitment to innovation and technology that dominates Formula One, the sport and the people at the head of it are inherently conservative.

In some respects, they are always suspicious of something new.

Things that they have no previous experience in mean an added risk of mistakes being made.

The question that drivers are asking is: What happens if the bright lights are mixed with spray from rain on the track?

There was a concern that the lights would be reflected, turning it into a blinding fog.

I understand that the recent tests in France have allayed those fears.

Renault F1 test driver Nelson Piquet Jr drove a GP2 car, one step below Formula One, on a track which was drenched and reported no problems at all.

He even joked that the lights were so good the drivers might invest in sunglasses!

It may be that the final test for the lighting system will be to set it up on a section of the track in Singapore, truly replicating what we hope to see next September.

Certainly, there is no doubt that it is a key part of Singapore GP's strategy.

"An electric night-time atmosphere will deliver a different perspective on Singapore and its stunning cityscape" said Jonathan Hallett, head of communications at Singapore GP.

"Visually, it will be a lot more interesting. Plus, who would want to miss seeing a global first?

"It will be much more than adding a unique new perspective to the event. It is a wholly new product and will create exciting new markets for Formula One."