Perth lights tested ahead of SuperNight

Supercars has undertaken an initial lighting test ahead of the PIRTEK Perth SuperNight, with local driver Alex Rullo behind the wheel.

The 19-year-old West Aussie is not competing at the event this year, but will return to the Supercars field for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup in October alongside Simona De Silvestro.

PIRTEK Perth SuperNight | Tickets | Event info

Rullo undertook the laps in a locally-sourced Holden track car, with lighting efforts focused on Turn 1, and supplemented by testing of trackside fireworks.

A full-circuit test is expected to take place on Wednesday evening, ahead of Thursday’s first night practice.

Supercars will race under lights at Barbagallo this year for the first time, following the success of the Sydney SuperNight last August.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have the night race here in Perth, I watched the Sydney one last year which was fantastic,” said Rullo.

“I drove here in Perth at night last year with none of this lighting. Now with these towers in place you can easily drive with the visor down and see very clearly.

“It is going to be a great spectacle, particularly with Perth being a short track with such an amphitheatre atmosphere and the crowd being so close to everything.”

Supercars Media boss Nathan Prendergast oversaw the test and is excited about lighting up the full 2.42km layout.

Forty-one light towers and five stadium-type flood lights will be temporarily installed at the venue, which is expected to give a more even spread of light than seen in Sydney.

“We are looking to go one step better in Perth,” Prendergast said.

“The intent is not to light it up like a stadium but to give the fans a feel of a glow of the brakes and the flames from the exhaust but to also make it a fantastic television product.

“We have more lights in comparison to Sydney and the circuit will have a better overall cover.

“It will look fantastic at night, particularly some of the shots from the air.”

Teams are also making additions to their cars for the night race, with Kelly Racing the first to show off undercar LED lights and reflective stickering ahead of the weekend.

Racing will take place under lights on Friday and Saturday, with knockout ARMOR ALL Qualifying used to set the grids.