Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone wants to turn the Japan Grand Prix into a night race, following the example of Singapore this week.

The sport’s 77-year-old commercial rights holder has been pushing hard for more races under spotlights to satisfy European television audiences and Japan is next in his sights.

Asked by BBC radio here if more floodlit races were planned, Ecclestone said: “If we have more races in this part of the world, yes.

“We’re going to try to get Japan to do it. I hope when people see Singapore they realise it wasn’t a stupid idea.”

Previously, Malaysia has said it was interested in hosting a night race, although Melbourne has ruled it out, much to the annoyance of Ecclestone who has threatened to strip the city of its Grand Prix.

The first ever race at night here has generated huge interest, but also created new a new set of problems for the drivers, with the race at 8pm and qualifying on Saturday at 10pm as opposed to the afternoons they are used to.

Some drivers have already voiced concern about the glare from the powerful floodlights, particularly if it rains.

But Ecclestone said the intrigue was good for the sport.

“Everybody’s wondering what’s going to happen, that’s what’s nice about it,” he said.

“We’ll have to see afterwards exactly how it comes out. We’ve done all of this for the TV so we should see now what happens.

“I hope it’s a good race, at least it’ll be different that’s for sure.”
[from MSN]

The pictures above ain’t irrelevant. It’s a silent protest. A protest that we don’t really care if there’s a night race or not in Japan. Would only like to see their grid girls, LOL. Not some Singtel Grid Girls of Singapore please, they can do better.

Anyway, a night race that looks like a day race, or more than a day race(due to the all-too-superb lighting), is just a waste of precious energy. Although it makes Singapore looks really nice in the night, still, the earth will ‘die’ sooner than expected if we continue to have such extravaganza, extravaganza that are not at all required to have.