Mark Webber testdrives Singapore F1 Street Circuit

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber took a leisurely drive today, around the proposed Singapore F1 street circuit in a black Renault Megane Coupe convertible. He had this to say about the plan for a night street circuit race:

[He] said organisers would have to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

"There's a few unanswered questions which need a bit more research, but that happens when you have something very exciting and something very new which is what we have here."

On whether such a race could be held here next year, Webber quipped: "If there's people walking on the moon, you can make things happen very quickly these days."

Previous blogpost on the Singapore F1 Street Circuit saga here and video + report from Channel News Asia on Webber's Saturday drive below.

Formula One: More work needed on Singapore night race - Webber
31 March 2007 1757 hrs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/267641/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Formula One's Mark Webber praised a proposed Singapore street circuit after driving it on Saturday but said more research was needed into a plan to race here at night.

The Red Bull driver from Australia said organisers would have to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

"They are talking about the night concept which again is very, very new and pioneering and something which has not been done before in Formula One," said Webber, 30, who is also director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association.

"The question of whether it rains has been mentioned," he added.

"It requires a lot of research and development into actually understanding how that could take place in terms of the amount of lighting required to make the event safe for the drivers, for marshals and (other) people taking part.

"There's a few unanswered questions which need a bit more research, but that happens when you have something very exciting and something very new which is what we have here."

Webber took a "leisurely" morning drive in a non-race car round the 4.8-kilometre (three-mile) route proposed by designer Hermann Tilke.

Despite the potential risks, Webber said "all the drivers are very, very keen to race on a new street circuit, which is definitely going to be the case here in Singapore."

"It's a very clean and beautiful city and I think it's a real signature event if you can have a Formula One Grand Prix here," he added.

"I can see the enthusiasm and the excitement to have an international sporting event such as the world Formula One championships here and it's something which looks exciting, no questions about it."

Webber's test drive comes after the Singapore government said negotiations were under way to host a Formula One event in the affluent Southeast Asian island-nation and that it was prepared to offer support.

It has been reported that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone held talks in the city-state with a tycoon who is bidding for the right to host an F1 race here.

Ecclestone was believed to have had dinner with Singapore hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng, one of two local parties jockeying to host the event.

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew said two years ago that he regretted not having built a Formula One race track to generate more money for the local economy.

Monaco hosts the circuit's only other street race, and there is no night race on the calendar.

Formula One organisers have made clear their intentions to stage night races to take advantage of time zone differences and boost TV audiences.

On whether such a race could be held here next year, Webber quipped: "If there's people walking on the moon, you can make things happen very quickly these days." - AFP