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Night Melbourne Grand Prix could cost only $5 million 13/03/08 - Paul Gover - news.com.au

IT could cost as little as $5 million a year to turn night into day at Albert Park for a Grand Prix under lights. A Mentone company is testing the lighting technology for a night race.   More than 300,000 fans are expected at Albert Park over the next four days, for what could be one of the last GPs in Melbourne. The V8 Supercars are first up in their return to the Albert Park circuit.   And Formula One drivers took advantage of beautiful autumn weather to hold a season kick-off kayak race off Williamstown beach. McLaren Mercedes driver, Brit Lewis Hamilton, took line honours in the event from Aussie driver Jamie Whincup. It was all in good fun, and kept them out of the way as the final preparations for Sunday's GP got under way. Four days of racing will end with a concert by rock band Kiss on Sunday night. But the future of the Melbourne race will be on most fans' minds. GP organisers have agreed to shift the start time to 5pm next year, to accommodate European TV audiences. But that might not be enough to satisfy Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone, who wants a night race. Enter Mentone-based Hella Australia, which has developed the lighting system. It is waiting for the green light from world motor sport governing body FIA before trying it at Albert Park. The system needs no permanent structures and can be set up in a few days. It has been tested by Mark Webber and Mick Doohan at Calder Park, and the head of safety for F1 was given a demonstration this week. Urbain du Plesasis, who heads Hella's lighting system development team, said it was waiting for the FIA to set a specification for lighting so countries that want to run night races could push ahead. The first demonstration was a success, passing safety aspects including the elimination of glare for drivers and officials. Hella showed the potential of the Artis system in an exclusive demonstration for the Herald Sun on Tuesday night. It turned a pitch-black stretch of industrial road in the Hella complex into a tunnel of light that would be suitable for TV broadcasting. It was every bit as visible as the MCG wicket under lights. The multi-million-dollar development of the Hella system has taken less than a year. The light towers are surprisingly compact, easily linked, and have been designed to stand behind the safety fencing used at major racetracks. The towers are set on both sides of the road to ensure an even spread of light, with no dark patches, and are designed to be angled in the direction of racing to virtually eliminate any sources of glare. Hella has kept the Government informed about the system and its operating cost. It says its system has several advantages over the lighting system being developed for the first after-dark Grand Prix in Singapore in September.   Related news:   y back to top

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