No Malaysia GP night race

(GMM) The Malaysian grand prix will not be the next night race on the formula one calendar.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, in Singapore for the sport's first ever floodlit event this weekend, is undoubtedly keen on expanding the concept to other races outside the key European time zone.

But Sepang circuit boss Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir has told the local newspaper The Star that Malaysia's F1 contract has been altered simply to accommodate a delayed race start.

"It will still be daylight and about 7pm when the new race finishes and for fans in Europe and Britain, it would be about 10am," said Mahathir, who is also in Singapore.

"We are not going to lose out."

He said Ecclestone "has agreed" that Malaysia does not need to become a night race, mainly due to organizers’' concerns about the cost of installing lights infrastructure.