Bahrain to host night race

The FIA world council meets for its annual general assembly this week and part of that meeting will be to confirm the F1 calendar for next season.

The 22-race preliminary calendar is likely to be cut down to 19 races, with the proposed new Grand Prix at New Jersey and Mexico axed, whilst Korea is also likely to be removed.

Another expected change is that the Bahrain Grand Prix will be moved to after dark, after the race promoters installed a new light system, which would enable them to hold a night race.

Over the weekend the race track held the final round of the World Endurance Championship, with the lights creating a spectacular setting in the desert.

If the plans were to be given the go ahead as part of Bahrain’s celebrations for holding their tenth Formula One Grand Prix, it would become the third race of the season to be held under artificial light.

The Grand Prix around the streets of Singapore has been a night race for the past five years, whilst the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a twilight race, starting as the sun begins to set and ended under the lights.