PICTURED: Amazing shots of Formula 1's first-ever night race



They are bizarre night-time scenes reminiscent of a lavish sci-fi movie set, but these astonishing pictures show the street circuit in Singapore which today hosts Formula 1's first-ever night race.

Intense lights brighten the roads during the night-time driving sessions

As they race, at up to 185mph, the drivers will pass some of Singapore's most famous landmarks, including the Esplanade(1), the dual oblong-shaped arts buildings in the centre of the above photograph.

The glowing circle to the left of the Esplanade is the 541ft-high Singapore Flyer(2), the city state's loftier equivalent of the London Eye, which marks the Start/Finish line.



Along the right-hand straight is the 10,000 seat Padang Grandstand(3).

Behind the grandstand is the Singapore Cricket Club(4), dating from 1852, a symbol of the city's colonial past, where a row of Grand Prix hospitality tents can be seen.



Nearby, the track passes another colonial landmark, St Andrew's Cathedral(5), consecrated ten years later.

McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton drives past the Old Court House during a warm up session

The near-daylight conditions around the 3.2-mile track are created by a complex floodlight system comprising 1,500 light projectors attached to 246 pylons,

each 33ft tall, placed at 350-yard intervals around the circuit.

This makes it four times brighter than a floodlit football stadium and so dazzling that the drivers will need to wear special sunglasses.

Power for the lights, linked by 67 miles of cable, is provided by 48 generators churning out 3,180,000 watts - enough to provide electricity for 2,400 apartments.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa on his way to qualifying on pole position

Hamilton looked relaxed just before posting an impressive lap time that put him second on the grid

Singapore created nearly a mile of new roads for the circuit, plus a permanent pit building and paddock complex costing £22.4million.

The race starts at 1pm UK time, with Brazilian Felipe Massa in pole position and Britain's Lewis Hamilton second on the grid.

Jenson Button drives during the final practice session prior to qualifying at the Marina Bay Street Circuit

Light fantastic: the Singapore circuit is ready for the off



