McLaren's championship leader Lewis Hamilton expects Formula One's first floodlight race through the streets of Singapore in September to be tricky and technical.

"It's difficult to imagine what a night race will be like," the 23-year-old Briton told Reuters.

"I think it will be very technical, and very tricky for overtaking... shadows and everything."

The night race, to be run on the wide avenues of the Central Business District of the Lion City, has already raised concerns among drivers, including Williams's Nico Rosberg.

"It is an unknown circuit," Hamilton said after a promotional event in Mumbai.

"But what I will do is to get there early. I'll run the circuit, I'll walk it with my engineers.

"Maybe the street will be open to the public and so we can drive around.

"Really just making sure I have covered everything, all the bumps, all the curves."

With F1's governing body looking to explore newer pastures, more new venues are expected to feature over the next few seasons.

In Asia alone, India is in line to host a race in 2010 after Abu Dhabi becomes the second race in the Middle East next season and Singapore debuts this year.

Hamilton says new circuits pose varied challenges to the teams and drivers.

"We have this year a couple of circuits we have never seen before," he said.

"It is a real challenge. When we arrive on the Friday at the Grand Prix we have two hours practice, which is really 30 laps a session, not a long time. Then we have Saturday's straight qualifying.

"There's hardly any time to be able to change the tyres, and we have over thousands of dollars in the car we've changed, so knowing which one to change, which one to fill up, where you are, and me... I've got out there and learn the circuit as well.

"For me I think it is a distinct advantage because I learn circuits so quickly," said Hamilton, who won the last two races at Silverstone and Hockenheim to forge four points clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

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