Reflective tyre markings for Singapore night race

MOTOR RACING: SINGAPORE, Sept 27, 2008: Formula One drivers will use special reflective paint so that viewers can tell which tyres they are racing with at Singapore, the first Grand Prix to be staged at night.

The street circuit will be lit by powerful spotlights, making visibility fine for drivers, but supplier Bridgestone has decided to paint a strip on its tyres so fans can differentiate between its super-soft and extreme-wet compounds as they would in daylight.

"We are using a special paint for Singapore," said Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone's director of motorsport tyre development.

"We don't believe this will make any difference to the racing but for the spectators and the media it should make it a little easier to tell which of our tyres are being used."

Hamashima added that Singapore was a completely new challenge, not just because it was a night race, but because no one had used the circuit before.

"Where there have been race meetings before at a facility, we can get an idea of how tyres react with the circuit, even if Bridgestone tyres were not used at the race," he said.

"Before the European Grand Prix in Valencia there was a race meeting, so we could form a general picture of racing there, but in Singapore it will be all-new for everyone, so this could be an additional challenge."

Nevertheless, he believes that from a tyre perspective, running a Grand Prix at night should not present any problems. "There is a lot of talk about Formula's One's first night race and this is good for the sport," he said.

"We have looked at many different aspects regarding a race taking place at night and we have no specific concerns.

"Ultimately, the way the tyre works at night will be the same as it works during the day."

He said their biggest worry was working out the logistics of when to work.

"Perhaps the most difficult aspect for our staff will be their working day," says Hamashima.

"Because the race and the practice sessions are at night our people will have the added challenge of working a night shift. "A lot of work takes place after the sessions so we will be working very late and this will be an exciting aspect of the weekend." AFP