Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber tests the lighting at Calder Park.
Plans for a Formula One night race at Albert Park have sparked a drive to the front of sports lighting.
Hella Australia has developed an innovative trackside illumination system that is being pitched for grand prix work, but could revolutionise night coverage of a wide range of sports.
The reflector system is said to be safe, immune to blackouts, shadow-free and compatible for live TV coverage.
Hella ran a secret test at Calder Park Raceway on November 12, which involved Red Bull F1 driver Mark Webber and former world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan.
It has submitted the results to world motorsport governing body, FIA, for certification of its system.
"We have shown it can be done. That is the most important thing," Hella Australia spokesman Thomas Plessinger said yesterday.
Plessinger is in Europe for a series of meetings involving FIA and other potential F1 opportunities.
"A year ago it was a dream, but now we know it's realistic. We are submitting our technical measurements and television footage to the FIA and Formula One management and we are waiting for their response," Plessinger said.
The multi-million-dollar development program began at Hella's technical centre in Mentone earlier this year, following serious talks about night grands prix in the Asia-Pacific region. Night races could be broadcast live into Europe in the morning.
Australian Grand Prix organisers have already moved the starting time for next year's race back to the late afternoon, while the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix on September 28 will be a full-scale night race under lights.
There is still talk of a night race at Albert Park in the future.
More than 50 engineers were involved in the work as Hella created its system and build 44 trial units, including a generator, supports and lighting unit, for the Calder trial.
"We spoke to the FIA in August in Hungary and we agreed on a demonstration. We had a light sample which we had already tested in Melbourne as a proof of concept," Plessinger said.
"For the trial we had 44 units. The requirement from the FIA was to light 500 metres, so we did a straight, a fast corner and a slow corner."
Plessinger said the Hella trial followed a trial at Indianapolis by American company Musco, which has provided lighting systems for a number of motorsport operations, including the Calder Park Raceway.
The company is looking to mass produce its system and is scouting a range of business opportunities, although it had not pitched for the planned Qatar MotoGP race, to be run under lights in the Middle East next year.
"Our system is designed, developed and manufactured in Australia. It is possible that we can light all motorsport, even as far as Formula One," Plessinger said.
"There are opportunities for other sports. Any application is suitable for our lights, but Formula One is the pinnacle."
