Mar 30

Formula One driver Mark Webber, fresh from a high-speed test on Malaysia' Sepang Circuit, is to make a leisurely drive around a proposed night circuit in Singapore on Saturday, his sponsor said.

The planned drive comes after the Singapore government said negotiations were under way to host a Formula One event in the city-state, and it was prepared to offer support.

"Mark Webber will be taking a leisurely drive around the proposed street circuit," a statement from the Australian's Red Bull Racing said Friday.

Monaco hosts the circuit's only other street race, and there is no night race on the calendar, Red Bull said.

"It’s great to hear that Singapore may be included in the global F1 calendar with what might be the first night race. It will be fantastic for the city and perfect for the drivers, given the heat in Southeast Asia.

"However, safety is a priority so it is important that the right amount of lighting and testing is done," said Webber, director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, in the statement.

The 4.8-kilometre (three mile) track proposed by designer Hermann Tilke takes in Singapore landmarks including the British colonial-era Raffles Hotel, Red Bull said.

Webber will not use a Formula One car during his 8:30 am drive, a Red Bull spokesperson told AFP.

Webber was second fastest with a time of 1:36.138 on Thursday during testing at Malaysia's Sepang circuit ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix on April 8.

Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, said recently that commercial negotiations over a possible F1 event were ongoing.

"Some government support will be necessary and we have indicated to the private parties concerned that some support is available," he said.

The Straits Times has reported that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone held talks in the city-state with a tycoon who is bidding for the right to host a F1 race in the island nation.

The newspaper report said Ecclestone was believed to have had dinner with Singapore hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng, one of two local parties jockeying to host the event.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran earlier told parliament the country was taking a "very serious look" at hosting an F1 race.

Adding to speculation over the event, Singapore's Economic Development Board has arranged for journalists to try out an F1 simulator on Saturday.

Mokhzani Mahathir, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), said on Wednesday that Malaysia is not worried by Singapore's bid to host a race.

But he warned the F1 events should not be held back-to-back.

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew said two years ago that he regretted not having built a Formula One race track to generate more money for the local economy.