Bright F1 lights along along Saint Andrews

Singapore has tested a small section of the lights that will be used for the country's first ever Formula One race in September.

On Saturday evening, 29 March 2008, a part of Saint Andrew's Road just outside Saint Andrew's Cathedral was lit up to simulate daylight. After about 10 minutes, at 3000 Lux it was as bright as daylight, or few times the brightness of the National Stadium. The man behind the whole set-up is lighting expert Valerio Maiolli, an Italian. According to Mr Maiolli, driving at high speeds under these lights is safe, even if it were to rain heavily.

For the test lighting, 2 trusses measuring 32 metres each were used to hang 16 lights or lighting projectors. The lights were installed four metres apart at a height of 10 metres. A total of 1,500 lighting projectors will be used for the five kilometre Singapore circuit which will be mounted on the left side of the anti-clock wise circuit. Installation of the lighting network will be carried out in phases starting end-May, and is expected to be completed by the first week of September. The public can view the test lights from Sunday till 6th of April. It will light up that part of the road from 7pm till midnight.

Another interesting feature of the race - in the place of regular flags, electronic flags flashed onto an LED panel, will make its debut for the world's first F1 night race.

Updated On: 08.03.29