Published: Saturday August 29, 2009 MYT 1:00:00 PM
Updated: Saturday August 29, 2009 MYT 1:07:51 PM

First F1 race to start in daylight and end in dark

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: The season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the first Formula One race to start in daylight and end at night, organizers announced Friday.

The race, to be held on Nov. 1, will start at 5 p.m. local time.

"Yas Marina Circuit has been built from the outset to host day and nighttime activities," Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management chief executive Richard Cregan said.

"Staging Formula One's first ever day/night race offers us the unique opportunity to demonstrate the circuit's inbuilt flexibility and state-of-the-art facilities."

Singapore hosted F1's first nighttime race last season.

Abu Dhabi, which is the second Middle East location to host an F1 race after Bahrain, is scheduled to host the race for another six years after this year's debut.

"It is the best of both worlds, spectators and television viewers will see the stunning architecture of the world's newest Formula One circuit during the afternoon sunlight and then experience what it is like under floodlights," Cregan said in the statement.

"We hope that everyone will be impressed by what they experience and see." - AP

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