Singapore will be leap in dark for Formula One

Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and co will face a new challenge next season after Formula One confirmed that Singapore's new circuit is to stage a floodlit night race in 2008, the first time a Grand Prix will have been raced after dark.

The race, which will take place in September, will extend the season to 18 events with Canada retained despite previously being given only provisional status.

The European Grand Prix has been moved to a new street circuit in Valencia, while the French race, which had been in doubt, is included.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone has been given a date of 6 July. The season will start in Australia on 16 March and end in Brazil on 2 November. The United States race at Indianapolis drops off the schedule while the German Grand Prix returns at Hockenheim.

Meanwhile, the Spyker team will be allowed to be renamed Force India in the next Formula One season. The World Motor Sport council approved the name change at a meeting yesterday. The team, based in Silverstone was bought by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and Dutch entrepreneur Michiel Mol earlier this month. Mallya and Mol are the third owners in two years for the former Jordan team. The Midland group took over in 2005, before selling on to Spyker in September 2006.

Adrian Sutil was the most successful driver for Spyker last season, scoring one Championship point. The other Spyker drivers – Sakon Yamamoto, Christian Albers and Markus Winkelhock – finished in the final three places in the standings.

2008 Formula One calendar:

16 March Australia (Melbourne); 23 March Malaysia (Sepang); 6 April Bahrain (Sakhir); 27 April Spain (Barcelona); 11 May Turkey (Istanbul); 25 May Monaco; 8 June Canada; 22 June France; 6 July Britain (Silverstone); 20 July Germany (Hockenheim); 3 Aug Hungary (Hungaroring); 24 Aug Europe (Valencia); 7 Sept Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps); 14 Sept Italy (Monza); 28 Sep Singapore; 12 Oct Japan (Fuji); 19 Oct China (Shanghai); 2 Nov Brazil (Interlagos).