BBC Sport:
FORMULA 1: Start time of final grand prix of season in Abu Dhabi changed to make it twilight race
5pm then?
What time is dusk at Abu Dhabi? If dusk isn't until like 9pm, we could have 6/7pm start....
Full Version: Start time of final grand prix of season in Abu Dhabi changed to make it twilight race
So that would be 14:00 CET?
QUOTE (peroa @ Aug 28 2009, 10:58) 
So that would be 14:00 CET?
If it's 5pm then yes.
I don't know what time it gets dark though, if it doesn't get dark till 9/10pm it will undoubtedly be a 6/7pm start.
Sunset in UAE in October is around 6PM as far as I recall
Jake says it's been moved back to 5pm on Twitter.
Yep so 1pm UK time. I wonder whether the drivers' have had an opinion in that after complaints about the Australia start time?
QUOTE (D.M.N. @ Aug 28 2009, 11:02)
If it's 5pm then yes.
I don't know what time it gets dark though, if it doesn't get dark till 9/10pm it will undoubtedly be a 6/7pm start.
I don't know what time it gets dark though, if it doesn't get dark till 9/10pm it will undoubtedly be a 6/7pm start.
Do Abu Dhabi use "Daylight savings time" ? I know that in Barhrain they don't, which would change the time difference by an hour, as European clocks will have gone back an extra hour by 1st Nov.....
So 5pm Abu Dhabi would be 13:00 CET, or 12:00GMT
IMO putting "Breaking News" at the start of thread titles is a little annoying. We know you were the first to spot the news pop up on the BBC ticker but it doesn't require "Breaking News" really. I've never understood why people feel the need to put that in the thread titles.. the forum isn't a 24/7 news channel.
And it's not exactly a developing story, either its' 5pm or it's not 
Is this really a shock to anyone? Abu Dhabi have been talking about it as a possibility since Melbourne.
QUOTE (pRy @ Aug 28 2009, 11:11)
IMO putting "Breaking News" at the start of thread titles is a little annoying. We know you were the first to spot the news pop up on the BBC ticker but it doesn't require "Breaking News" really. I've never understood why people feel the need to put that in the thread titles.. the forum isn't a 24/7 news channel.
Who the hell cares? It's breaking news to me...
On the subject, I liked it how the Brazil GP was in the evening for Europe, gives a great atmosphere for the grand finale of the F1 season. I'll be sad to see the final round go to Abu Dhabi..
QUOTE (pRy @ Aug 28 2009, 12:11)
IMO putting "Breaking News" at the start of thread titles is a little annoying. We know you were the first to spot the news pop up on the BBC ticker but it doesn't require "Breaking News" really. I've never understood why people feel the need to put that in the thread titles.. the forum isn't a 24/7 news channel.
I was going to remove the "Breaking News" but can't edit the title of the thread. Mods?
QUOTE (D.M.N. @ Aug 28 2009, 06:18)
I was going to remove the "Breaking News" but can't edit the title of the thread. Mods?
Don't bow to their grumpy old man whinging! Just leave it as it is....
Oh, wait, in between me clicking on the thread to read it and clicking on reply, it's been changed. Wow. Hope you guys are happy now. What a pathetic whinge that was.
QUOTE (Gypsy @ Aug 28 2009, 11:21)
Don't bow to their grumpy old man whinging! Just leave it as it is....
Oh, wait, in between me clicking on the thread to read it and clicking on reply, it's been changed. Wow. Hope you guys are happy now. What a pathetic whinge that was.
Oh, wait, in between me clicking on the thread to read it and clicking on reply, it's been changed. Wow. Hope you guys are happy now. What a pathetic whinge that was.
Indeed.
What sort of temperatures do Abu Dhabi get in November? If it's OK, later in the evening = cooler = benefit to Red Bull?
I think the nature of the circuit will be a bigger issue than the temperatures.
Im not sure about the sunset times in that part of the world at that time of year (Id guess 8pm ish at the latest, closer to equator dont have long days) but if its anything like Australia this year they should reconsider it. The shadows being cast over the track were very bad for the drivers vision. Imagine what itll be like with those huge buildings towering over the track? Hopefully if its twilight they can use floodlights aswell to augment.
QUOTE (Tenmantaylor @ Aug 28 2009, 20:07)
Im not sure about the sunset times in that part of the world at that time of year (Id guess 8pm ish at the latest, closer to equator dont have long days) but if its anything like Australia this year they should reconsider it. The shadows being cast over the track were very bad for the drivers vision. Imagine what itll be like with those huge buildings towering over the track? Hopefully if its twilight they can use floodlights aswell to augment.
And the twilight is shorter closer to the equator...
Article now up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8226520.stm
QUOTE
The 2009 Formula 1 finale in Abu Dhabi on 1 November will be a twilight race run at 1700 local time (1300 GMT).
The inaugural grand prix in the United Arab Emirate is set to be a day-to-dusk race with the sun setting around 1745.
Organisers may use artificial lighting now the race has been moved from its provisional 1500 start to a time more convenient for European audiences.
Abu Dhabi is staging the year's final race in place of Brazil, where the last two drivers' titles have been decided.
Organisers will be hoping to attract a big crowd at the new circuit and massive global television audience if the championship goes down to the wire again.
Jenson Button holds an 18-point lead ahead of Sunday's Belgium GP but has seen his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Red Bull rivals Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel close the gap in recent races.
McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton remains mathematically in the mix with a maximum of 60 points still up for grabs.
The decision to hold the Abu Dhabi GP at 1700 local time is designed to maximise global television audiences.
But both Australia and Malaysia experienced problems this year by holding their grands prix later in the day.
In Melbourne's season-opener in March, the drivers complained about visibility caused by the low sun at Albert Park.
The following race in Malaysia was interrupted by heavy rain and the light was fading before the event was red-flagged after 32 laps.
The inaugural grand prix in the United Arab Emirate is set to be a day-to-dusk race with the sun setting around 1745.
Organisers may use artificial lighting now the race has been moved from its provisional 1500 start to a time more convenient for European audiences.
Abu Dhabi is staging the year's final race in place of Brazil, where the last two drivers' titles have been decided.
Organisers will be hoping to attract a big crowd at the new circuit and massive global television audience if the championship goes down to the wire again.
Jenson Button holds an 18-point lead ahead of Sunday's Belgium GP but has seen his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Red Bull rivals Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel close the gap in recent races.
McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton remains mathematically in the mix with a maximum of 60 points still up for grabs.
The decision to hold the Abu Dhabi GP at 1700 local time is designed to maximise global television audiences.
But both Australia and Malaysia experienced problems this year by holding their grands prix later in the day.
In Melbourne's season-opener in March, the drivers complained about visibility caused by the low sun at Albert Park.
The following race in Malaysia was interrupted by heavy rain and the light was fading before the event was red-flagged after 32 laps.
QUOTE (D.M.N. @ Aug 28 2009, 19:24)
Article now up: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/8226520.stm
May use? I think lighting is going to be essential.
http://www.earthtv.com/de/camera-location/...rina-circuit-de
theres a webcam of the circuit, will be able to see the aproximate light levels at start time
edit: another site showing sunrise/sunset graphs http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/abu-dhabi.html
theres a webcam of the circuit, will be able to see the aproximate light levels at start time
edit: another site showing sunrise/sunset graphs http://www.gaisma.com/en/location/abu-dhabi.html
Jonathan Noble's twitter:
It seems like the broadcaster info hadn't been finalised, but BBC appear to have jumped onto it as official and have published info regarding it.
QUOTE
broadcasters have been told that the Abu Dhabi GP will start at 5pm this year, but the track itself insists the 3pm slot stands....
It seems like the broadcaster info hadn't been finalised, but BBC appear to have jumped onto it as official and have published info regarding it.
They have to start the race late because otherwise the track won't be finished.
QUOTE (Ringo @ Aug 28 2009, 13:17)
They have to star the race late because otherwise the track won't be finished.
Erm, no one here is debating the date of the race, just the time of it.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78055
QUOTE
Sunset on the November 1 race date takes place at 5.43pm - meaning if the 5pm start goes ahead then there will be a transition between dusk and darkness over the course of the race.
QUOTE (D.M.N. @ Aug 28 2009, 13:18)
Erm, no one here is debating the date of the race, just the time of it.
Erm, I never said they were. It was merely a joke about the fact that, given the state of the track at the moment, the chances are they'll still be painting the lines on the still setting asphalt by the time we get there.
QUOTE (Gypsy @ Aug 28 2009, 11:21)
Don't bow to their grumpy old man whinging! Just leave it as it is....
Oh, wait, in between me clicking on the thread to read it and clicking on reply, it's been changed. Wow. Hope you guys are happy now. What a pathetic whinge that was.
Oh, wait, in between me clicking on the thread to read it and clicking on reply, it's been changed. Wow. Hope you guys are happy now. What a pathetic whinge that was.
It was only topped by your even more pathetic whinge.
I think that might be the point, Gilles: the sun goes down, the lights come on and the spectacle of it all is supposed to be against a dramatic-looking backdrop.
During the BBC coverage at Spa they said that the circuit would be lit, and the lights would be on from the start of the race.
QUOTE (se7en_24 @ Aug 28 2009, 08:46)
It was only topped by your even more pathetic whinge.
Hardly an ace. Must try harder.
QUOTE (bigginge @ Aug 28 2009, 14:48)
During the BBC coverage at Spa they said that the circuit would be lit, and the lights would be on from the start of the race.
...a comment I found surprising.
Why don't they just make it a night race if they want to maximise TV audiences? Presumably they want Singapore to still seem 'unique', for the moment at least...
Noble's just tweeted that the track have confirmed the 5pm start time.
Good to see F1 promoting its 'green credentials' by leaving the lights on during the day then... 
They'll thrown in a random yellow flag and SC to be sure the race lasts some few minutes longer. Just so the contrast between the start and end time is greater.
just see how well it went in Malay. During the day even shortly before the sun goes down they'll need tinted visors, in the night they need to be bright.
QUOTE (kNt @ Aug 28 2009, 19:50)
just see how well it went in Malay. During the day even shortly before the sun goes down they'll need tinted visors, in the night they need to be bright.http://pt-la.transitions.com/
They'll start with smoke colored tearoffs on their visors.
How many F1 races have there been recently that started in daylight and ended at night?
How many F1 races have there been recently that started in daylight and ended at night?
QUOTE (OfficeLinebacker @ Aug 28 2009, 23:13)
They'll start with smoke colored tearoffs on their visors.
How many F1 races have there been recently that started in daylight and ended at night?
How many F1 races have there been recently that started in daylight and ended at night?
Well Badoer in Valencia almost started the race in daylight and finished at night
juuuust kidding, I think none, Australia gets into late afternoon with long shadows and everything but it's not night by any means. And malaysia 09 was pretty dark but they had stopped running due to the rain
QUOTE (se7en_24 @ Aug 28 2009, 13:46)
It was only topped by your even more pathetic whinge.
The Valencia live commentary was classic. "It's too hot. Why isn't Jenson winning? This isn't what I paid for."
QUOTE (slideways @ Aug 28 2009, 22:03)
The Valencia live commentary was classic. "It's too hot. Why isn't Jenson winning? This isn't what I paid for."
That's not a direct quote.
IIRC some of the drivers in Austrailia started with clear visors didn't they? If so, then I'd expect most if not all to do the same. It looks to me that the parts of the circuit that will have direct sunlight facing the drivers will be from turn 7 down the long back straight and through turns 8-10. They might pick up some glare on the turn backs at 14 and 19. Even if those don't come into play the setting sun at turn 8 could prove really tricky.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm..._Yas-Island.svg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm..._Yas-Island.svg
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