The Singapore Grand Prix around the Marina Bay heralds a new era for Formula One as it will also be the first time that a Formula One race will be held under lights. Here are some interesting facts...
- The entire 3.148-mile circuit will be floodlit and 67 miles of power cables, 240 steel pylons and around 1,600 light projectors with a total power requirement of 3,180,000 watts will be used. The lighting will be four times brighter than the lights at sports stadiums.
- After turn 18 the cars will briefly race underneath a temporary section of grandstands that faces out towards the Floating Platform, which sets the track apart from other circuits.
- The traditional coloured warning flags waved by race marshals will not be used. Instead electronic flags called DigiFlags, supplemented by electronic boards alongside the track, will be used make it a little easier for the drivers to spot.
- The Singapore Grand Prix is one of only three races on the 2008 calendar that goes anti-clockwise. The other two are the Brazilian and Turkish GPs.
- Turn 6 is the fastest corner on an F1 street circuit. Drivers will be doing in excess of 300km/h along Raffles Boulevard as it's a long winding stretch.
- Singapore will of course host Formula One's first night race, but it will also be the 800th in the 59-year history of the FIA F1 World Championship.
- With a total seating capacity of 100,600 per day, more than 300,000 people are expected to attend the event.
- The timetable had to be changed after teams and drivers complained that the original schedule didn't give them enough practice under the lights. The second Friday practice was then pushed back to 9.30pm while qualifying will now begin at 10pm.
- A three-story pit building along the Marina Promenade was built especially for the Singapore GP street race. The building houses the team garages, race control, media centre and the podium.
- Fans will get an opportunity to watch the race from as high as 165m in the air. The Singapore Flyer - the country's answer to the London Eye - will give breathtaking, panoramic views of the Marina Bay and racetrack.
