Abu Dhabi has confirmed to be first day-night grand prix.

[The Local Ride]

Abu Dhabi has confirmed that its race will start at 5pm this year - as it hailed what will be the first day-night grand prix.

With sunset at 5.43pm on race day, it means the final race of the season will start at dusk and end under floodlights at night.

"Staging Formula 1's first ever day/night race offers us the unique opportunity to demonstrate the circuit's inbuilt flexibility and state-of-the-art facilities. It has always been our intention to showcase to the world this spectacular venue and this decision allows just that opportunity." - Abu Dhabi circuit's CEO Richard Cregan

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78061

Sounds like quite the spectacle!

[CMSMJ1]

Another bloody gimmick to keep the Euro fans from having to watch it too early...

Let them bake under the mid day sun for me...

No point going ot the middle east and pretending you are somewhere else.. What about the low sun, again! This was an issue in Australia and so I expect it to be as bad here..

[The Local Ride]

I agree that the sun glare is a real pain for the drivers but wouldn't the constant drop in temperature prove interesting when considering tyres? I believe that the changeable conditions could result in a really interesting race.

[jddh1]

Didn't know what to make of this when first read it. What time will it be on here in New York (eastern usa)?
Over here, we are used to waking up, generally, at 7:30 am to watch a race. Yet, Bernie is worried Europeans won't wake up by 11 o'clock on a Sunday? Puhleeze!

[ESPImperium]

IMO. Race drivers are like footballers, they shouldnt complain about the time they are driving, as if a football match is to take place at 10pm at night, they will play then. Time of day should not bother them, they are paid for theese eventuallitys, and they should be able to cope as they are of course the best drivers in the world.

Also Cricket does simmilar situations as well.

Will be a good thing to watch, am really looking forward to it.

[ISLAMATRON]

Didn't know what to make of this when first read it. What time will it be on here in New York (eastern usa)?
Over here, we are used to waking up, generally, at 7:30 am to watch a race. Yet, Bernie is worried Europeans won't wake up by 11 o'clock on a Sunday? Puhleeze!

We wake up that early for F1, I doubt even NFL fans would wake up that early for a game... how early did we get up for Michigan games? If they were at seven, even michigan stadium would be empty.

I dont remember too many drivers complaining about the twilight Aussie GP, did they? Other than FA, he complains about everything.

[Ray]

If NASCAR can put up with it, F1 can as well. I liked the night race last year, but I can't understand why F1 thinks past experiences in other Formulas don't apply to them.

[pjobmathew]

Does anyone have a clue of the temp difference at the begining and the end of the race ????

[Conceptual]

It's all fun and games until a driver ends up on a stretcher.

I am all for spectacle, but only when it is in the control of the drivers...

This is almost as bad as if they purposefully turned on the sprinkler system to make it a rain race...

The reason that pro sports teams in the US build huge domes to play in, is for consistant playing circumstances (most of them anyways, I remember a game in Dallas with snow...). Why, oh, why would you go out of your way to put the ultimate test of driver and racecar, especially the season finalle (where the championship has been won in the last 2 seasons) under less than optimal circumstances?

Isn't that like making multi-million dollar thoroughbreds race on ice? Why would anyone risk such a rediculous amount of catastrophe?

Man, I have so much more to rant about, but the thought of typing all of what I think about this BS game of money and politics just makes me nauseous............

[-KMR_NH-]

I don't understand all the start time changes. And I'm not a fan of night races. What do I have? A track lightened by thousands of lights. What a fun. To me, it's just a show I don't actually need cuz I just wanna see some racing.
So, for me, 2pm local, that's it.

[Ray]

It's all fun and games until a driver ends up on a stretcher.

I am all for spectacle, but only when it is in the control of the drivers...

This is almost as bad as if they purposefully turned on the sprinkler system to make it a rain race...

Name one race in any series anywhere in the world that a driver was put on a stretcher caused by conditions changing from daylight to nighttime without any other factors being involved. One. The reason you are talking about it like this is because you don't like it, not because it's unsafe or stupid. There isn't a rational reason for anything you say. Formula is a bunch of whiny sissies. Bunch of pussies that only want to do it one way and one way only. No challenge at all. And they and the fans think that since Formula 1 hasn't done a night race, no other racing series that has is of no useful data. If it didn't infuriate me at the stupidity of people about this issue it would be funny how cowardly and stupid the were. Don't worry Conceptual, their mommies will hold them while they piss, moan, and cry about doing what every other form of motosport has done for 50 years.

[ISLAMATRON]

Oh my GOD! changing light conditions being dangerous... somebody quick make sure they cancel every endurance race from now on... especially the 24 of Le Mans, how could they possibly deal with a sunset and a sunrise!?!?!?!

[Ray]

Oh my GOD! changing light conditions being dangerous... somebody quick make sure they cancel every endurance race from now on... especially the 24 of Le Mans, how could they possibly deal with a sunset and a sunrise!?!?!?!

=D>

[flynfrog]

Oh my GOD! changing light conditions being dangerous... somebody quick make sure they cancel every endurance race from now on... especially the 24 of Le Mans, how could they possibly deal with a sunset and a sunrise!?!?!?!

or every small track in US most start in the afternoon and race into the night.


Hell even ive raced into the sun it does suck but you deal with it

[Conceptual]

My point is that it is unnecessary and contrived.

If they were driving an endurance race, they would expect the changing light conditions, and they would be well prepared and experienced doing so.

If F1 cars were meant to race in the dark, they would be designed with headlights.