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Singapore is the
first and only night race on the Formula One calendar, using a demanding and
technical street circuit that calls for Pirelli‟s soft and supersoft tyres.
Singapore is also one of the races that lasts longest all year: the 61 laps
over the 5.073-kilometre circuit is expected to take the grand prix right up
to the maximum two-hour time limit. Although Singapore is well known for its
high levels of humidity, it has not yet rained during the actual grand prix,
which was inaugurated in 2008. Preliminary forecasts suggest a high
probability of rain during this weekend though, meaning that Pirelli‟s P
Zero Orange rain tyres and P Zero Blue intermediates could also be called
into action.
The circuit is unchanged compared to last year, apart from some small
modifications to the kerbing at Turn Two. Here are some of the most
challenging parts of the track from a tyre‟s perspective.
The track
Memorial corner comes after the longest straight of the lap. The maximum
speed reached on the straight is about 300kph, with the cars generating
extremely high levels of downforce that pushes onto the tyres. The braking
area covers 104 metres, with a 4G deceleration, while the bumpy surface
destabilises the car. The front tyres have the equivalent of 600 kilogram's
loading them, guaranteeing grip, a sharp turn-in, and optimal precision
throughout the corner.
Another famous corner is Singapore Sling. In order to cut the corner the
drivers use the kerbs. The tyres hit the kerbing at 130kph, filtering and
reducing the vertical movements of the car and helping the suspension to
absorb the shock.
There is a short straight with speeds of 250kph, followed by the final two
corners, which have an equal radius. On entry to the final corner, the
front-right tyre has to guarantee the best precision possible in order to
maintain the ideal trajectory. In the middle of that corner the drivers open
up the throttle and unleash full power, with the right-rear tyre having the
job of putting all that power down onto the track. With all the corners that
characterise the Marina Bay circuit, one of the biggest causes of tyre wear
is wheel spin. The softer compounds in the P Zero range are the most
efficient in terms of gaining traction, which is another important reason
why they are nominated for Singapore.
Rain tyres in the dark
If it rains when the cars are on track this weekend, it will actually not be
the first time that a Formula One tyre has run at night and in the wet.
During its pre-season testing campaign, Pirelli tested for two days with
Pedro de la Rosa and the Toyota TF109 at the Abu Dhabi circuit in January,
on an artificially-dampened track. In the process, history was created – as
this was the first time in grand prix history that a Formula One car had run
in the dark with „rain‟.
It was a spectacular show, but with a very serious purpose. Rain is not
always associated with cool conditions, so the Abu Dhabi test allowed
Pirelli to assess the performance of the P Zero tyres over nearly 400
kilometres within a temperature range of 20-25 degrees centigrade: similar
to the conditions that we will see in Singapore this weekend.
De la Rosa was also able to report back on how it felt to drive in wet
conditions at night from a driver‟s perspective. Although he reported some
reflection of the light in the standing water, he added that visibility was
not an issue and that it was an enjoyable – and so far unique – experience.
As Pirelli‟s motorsport director Paul Hembery explains: “Theoretically,
there‟s absolutely no difference between running our wet tyres at night than
there is during the day. The biggest difference is temperature, but the Abu
Dhabi test enabled us to gather very useful data about how the wet tyres
behaved in unusually warm conditions. We were very pleased with the results
of that test, so we know that if it‟s necessary this weekend, we can run the
wet tyres in the dark with complete confidence.” |
