Two F1 tracks rule out night races

LONDON, England - Two F1 hosts have ruled out switching to a night race format for 2015.

Malaysia has been under consistent pressure in recent years from Bernie Ecclestone to switch to a floodlit format, to emulate the Singapore-like spectacle and provide a better television timeslot for the global audience.

Sepang chief Razlan Razali said: "In the past he was pushing but now I think it's the first time where he actually listened to us as a promoter (about) what we want."

'SAFER TIME BRACKET'

What will probably change for Malaysia in 2015, however, is a race time change from 3pm instead of 4pm (9am instead of 10am SA local time), as a consequence of Jules Bianchi's horror crash in fading light at Suzuka in 2014.

Razali said: "For us it's good. It's a safer time bracket.  So now people can come in for lunch, watch the race and about five o'clock they can go back (home)."

Another race slated to shift to a night format for 2015 was Russia. Race organisers have in fact confirmed that the 2015 Russian GP will kick off an hour earlier than in 2014.

Promoter Sergey Vorobyov said: "Many fans of motor sport already arrange their trip for the Russian race, so for them it is a good opportunity already to plan the weekend."

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