News; Kimi on night races, No French GP 2008

In Sepang – Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen has backed a controversial plan to stage Formula One Grand Prix races at night.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has spoken of including night races on the F1 schedule as early as next season.

"For me it is okay as long as there is enough lighting,"
Raikkonen told reporters during testing here ahead of the April 8
Malaysian Grand Prix.

But some top drivers have opposed the plan. Citing safety
reasons, world champion Fernando Alonso has come out against night
races.

The Spaniard had recently said in Australia that he had some
experience of racing at night at the McLaren team’s 2007 season launch.

"We launched the car in Valencia at night and it was extremely difficult to see the road," Alonso said.

"For me, it’s very hard to believe that they will have strong enough lights to see okay to have a grand prix."

But support for Ecclestone’s plans seems growing after Mokhzani
Mahathir, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), backed
night races.

"For me it makes commercial sense to host a night race. It is
cooler to race here and we think we can get more people to come and
watch at Sepang," he said.

Mokhzani said Sepang Circuit officials were already in talks
with lighting consultants on what lights could be used to make the
track bright but without glare or shadow.

French Grand Prix dropped in 2008

< And Kimi is saddened by the news. (Actually, the pictures show Kimi’s disappointment in missing out on his first F1 win on the last lap at the 2002 French Grand Prix

The French Motor Sporting Federation (FFSA) has confirmed that there
will not be a French Grand Prix next year. This follows news earlier
today from French newspaper L’Equipe that Magny Cours would not take
place in 2008 due to accommodation and access problems.

A statement from the FFSA read: "The French Motor Sporting Federation
(FFSA), the organiser and promoter of the event, would like to make it
clear that its Committee, which met on 21st March 2007, has unanimously
decided to suspend the inscription of the French Grand Prix on the 2008
calendar as all the conditions necessary for success were not met.

"The FFSA Committee will re-examine the situation during its next meeting in July 2007.

"The first priority is that the 2007 French Grand Prix should take
place in the best possible conditions on 1st July 2007 on the Nevers
Magny-Cours circuit, where a well-filled programme awaits the
spectators," the statement ended.

(Kimi Raikkonen Space)