The introduction of a night Grand Prix in Singapore last year was as much to do with the spectacle of a race under lights as it was to cater to the tv viewers in Europe.
The introduction of a night Grand Prix in Singapore last year was as much to do with the spectacle of a race under lights as it was to cater to the television viewers in Europe.
The fact that TV viewership plays a key role in F1 has been reemphasized by the rescheduling of two races this year. FIA, the world governing body of motorsports, announced on Wednesday that the 2009 Australian and Malaysian Grand Prix races will start at 5 pm instead of the usual 3 pm. The adjustment will enable European viewers to watch the Malaysian Grand Prix at a ‘comfortable’ 9 am instead of 7 am.
For all its glitz, glamour and technology, Formula One still revolves around television viewership. In fact, more than the actual attendance on the race tracks, it is the television rights that rake in the moolah for the sport. From 2007, the F1 authorities have started making noise about turning Asian Grand Prix into night races in order to accommodate European viewers.
What has emboldened the Bernie Ecclestone-headed F1 administration is the phenomenal success of the night race in Singapore, both as a racing spectacle and the reach to maximum viewers in Europe. As a result, Ecclestone is pitching for similar kind of races in Asia and Pacific. The Singapore race demonstrated that Asia was the perfect stage for turning F1 into a spectacle as well as keeping the viewers back in Europe happy.
However, most of the circuits like Sepang and Malaysia have resisted the lure of night races because of the huge infrastructure costs. Last year, Ecclestone had even spoken about the possibility of Australia losing out on hosting a F1 Grand Prix if it did not become a night race. Malaysia too had expressed its inability to spend millions of dollars for installing floodlights on the Sepang circuit. However, they have agreed for a twilight race.
“Obviously, the later it is the better. I suppose it is easier getting up in Europe at 6am than 3am,” F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone remarked about the change in timings at Melbourne.
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