PREVIEW: Rainstorms likely to affect Singapore Grand Prix weekend

Sep 22, 2011, 7:06 GMT

By Kai Portmann, dpa =

Singapore (dpa) - Rainstorms are likely to spice up this weekend's Formula One night race at Singapore's Marina Bay Street Circuit, weather experts said Thursday, as world champion Sebastian Vettel is poised to become the youngest F1 driver to defend his title.

Singapore's National Environment Agency in its three-day-outlook predicted cloudy weather for Friday and showers with thunder for both Saturday and Sunday.

On Thursday, constant rain started to fall in the early morning hours.

Sunday's 61-lap Singapore floodlight race on the 5.073-km-circuit with 23 corners is one of the longest in duration in the Formula One and, given the island state's heat and humidity, pushes drivers to their limits.

Wet conditions might add to the attraction for fans, but would take an extra toll on the drivers as their cars slip and slide across the asphalt.

'It's a big concern because spotlights can reflect water on the circuit, which can cause big issues for visibility,' McLaren's Jenson Button told Singapore's Straits Times newspaper.

Title holder Vettel of team Red Bull enters Sunday's night GP 112 points ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

The 24-year-old German will be assured of the title and seal back-to-back world titles ahead of the final five races if everything goes his way.

However, Alonso, who won the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix, appears determined to delay Vettel's coronation.

'We hope to repeat the weekend of 2010 and thus to present another victory to the Prancing Horse and to all our fans,' the Ferrari driver told the official F1 website.

'That is our target, one that will remain for all the coming races,' he said.

With Vettel having earned 284 points going into the final six races compared to Alonso's 172, the 30-year-old Spaniard would have to win at least four races and pick up 13 points from the other two races to win a third championship.

In addition, Vettel, who stole the title in the final race from Alonso last year, would also have to finish outside the points in six consecutive races.

'What is certain is that we will give everything,' said Alonso, who was the first driver to check out the Singapore track on a bicycle Wednesday night.