In Singapore, work is at such an advanced stage on the new Formula One race track that officials reckon by the time September 2008 rolls around, all will be ready for the rumble. Best of all, the lighting situation got a boost from the introduction of electronic flag displays. Coloured flags used by race officials to communicate with the drivers will be in action as digital displays as well.
Better for information control is the fact that info will be centralized, and therefore the race director will know exactly what is going on on different parts of the circuit. There will be 35 display panels all around the circuit and supplement hand-held flags. It will be the first time Digiflag technology is used in F1, after years of research and development.
By late May the service road and paddock tunnel, a new track section in front of the pit building will be completed. The lighting system, which is absolutely vital for the night race, is being installed in stages. Curiously the lights look to be only on one side of the track for most of it, but that could yet change. Sixteen lighting projectors were installed and tested last week on a 64-metre stretch. On this stretch or the rest of it, the cars will be doing about 260km/h. Illumination from the 1,500 projectors will be up to four times higher than that of a football stadium for example. Thus expect some really bright sparks in September.
Singapore GP Will Use Digital Flags
35 display panels on the track
By Thami Masemola
April 20, 2008 12:30 AM
Filed Under: European, F1, Motorsport
Press Release (Click to expand)
As well as making history as the sport’s first-ever night race, the FORMULA 1™ SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX on September 28 will also mark the introduction of electronic flag displays as well as the coloured flags traditionally waved by race officials to communicate with drivers.
The flag signals, which have been an integral part of Grand Prix motor racing for over five decades, will be supplemented by electronic boards alongside the track. Using technology similar to units used to guide pilots at major airports, the ‘DigiFlags’ will display the different flag colours more effectively at the night race because of the brightness of the display boards.
The system, developed by Singapore GP technical consultants Valerio Maioli Spa, is the result of more than a decade of development at the Barcelona, Imola and Monza racing circuits, in order to meet the stringent requirements of the FIA sporting code. The Singapore street circuit will mark the first-ever use of the Digiflag technology in a Formula OneTM event.
Thirty five display panels will be situated around the track. Controlled by hand-held panels operated by officials at each marshals’ post, they will supplement the traditional flag signals. In addition the race director will have an overview of the warnings being displayed around the entire circuit, allowing more centralised, efficient communication of warnings to drivers.
The announcement of the new ‘digiflag’ technology follows a successful week-long demonstration of the lighting units that will make history when Singapore hosts the world’s first night race on the Formula One™ calendar. Sixteen lighting projectors were installed and tested last week on a 64-metre stretch of St Andrew’s Road in front of the Padang, which in September will see the cars reaching up to 260 km/h.
The system was operated for five hours each night through the week. In addition to allowing members of the public to view the lighting infrastructure, the tests gave valuable feedback on the operation of the systems in all weather conditions, and over a sustained period.
In September, the entire track will be fitted with nearly 1,500 lighting projectors which will be powered by 12 twin-power generators. An overall average of about 3000lux level is required to illuminate the circuit, which is enough to meet High Definition television broadcast standards. As a result, the track will be almost four times brighter than a typical stadium. The demonstration also revealed that the lighting projectors are designed in such a way as to avoid glare to spectators as well as to ensure the safety of drivers during the race.
Installation of the full lighting system will be carried out in stages, starting with the Pit Straight at the end of May with completion targeted for 31 August 2008, a month ahead of the race on 28 September.
The live demonstration of the lighting system is the latest milestone as Singapore prepares for race day in September. The Pit Building is 65 percent complete and well on schedule to be ready by the end of June. The modification works to existing roads, such as the removal of kerbs and traffic islands along the track, as well as the expansion of the Promenade in front the National Day Parade seating gallery, are in the advanced stages of completion.
The remaining of the road works, such as the construction of a new track section in front of the pit building and the construction of a service road and tunnel to the paddock, are expected to be completed by late May.
About 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix The inaugural 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix will take place on 28 September 2008 on a street circuit of public roads around the Marina Bay area. The race will be the first held at night in FORMULA 1™ history and is the first street race in Asia.
About Singapore GP Pte Ltd Singapore GP Pte Ltd is the race promoter for the FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. It holds five-year renewable rights to stage the Singapore Grand Prix, beginning with the 2008 Season. The company is a partnership between Komoco Motors and regional events company Lushington Entertainments, via its parent company Reef Enterprises.
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