THE Singapore Grand Prix will notch another first - adding to its claim to fame as the world’s inaugural Formula One night race.
The Republic will be the first F1 venue with a pilot green project by MotorSports Green Powered (MSGP) at the Sept 27 race. Backed by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, MSGP launched the initiative to help the motorsports fraternity balance its energy consumption.The move is the latest in F1’s efforts to brand itself as a more environmentally-conscious sport.
DESPITE the weaker economy, Singapore is still aiming for $100 million of tourism receipts and 40,000 foreign visitors for the Formula One race from Sept 25-27. ‘We are mindful that this year the climate is not the same as last year,’ said Singapore Tourism Board (STB) F1 projects director Leong Yue Kheong. But F1 continues to attract people from around the world, he said.
The 2008 race earned Singapore $168 million of tourism receipts and brought in more than 40,000 foreign visitors.
This year, in the second edition of Formula’s 1 spectacular night race on Sept 27, the Singapore street circuit along Marina Bay will have names for three turns along its 5.067km track. The corners selected by organisers Singapore GP are Turns 1, 7 and 10 and readers are invited to send in their suggestions in a contest where attractive prizes are on offer for the winning entries (see box above).
Turn 1, under Benjamin Shears Bridge, was a natural choice as the sport regards the first corner as the most watched and crucial corner of a race.
CHANGES to this year’s Singapore Grand Prix pricing plans will be made to cater to the demands of all racing fans.The Straits Times understands that race promoter Singapore GP is working on a comprehensive pricing structure for grandstand and general admission tickets.
Although pricing details on the grandstand and general admission tickets will only be released next month, a Singapore GP spokesman said that many of the grandstands will have ‘early bird’ prices. Early-bird promotions are expected to be more attractive than the 2008 prices.
IT WAS an evening to remember for Formula One’s first night race.At London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Sunday, the Singapore Grand Prix captured the Pioneering and Innovation Award at the Autosport Awards.
The awards, handed out by motor racing magazine Autosport since 1982, is widely regarded as being second only to the International Automobile Federation (FIA) awards in terms of prestige.
Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, collected the award from McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen on behalf of the race.
He described the effect of the grand prix on Singapore and its people as ‘overwhelming’.
THE SingTel Singapore Grand Prix celebrated yet another success on Tuesday, with the event and the Marina Bay circuit winning the title of world-wide Motor Sport Facility of the Year.
The first-ever floodlit night race venue in F1 history won the accolade at the Professional Motor Sport World annual awards ceremony in Cologne on Tuesday.
The 5.067km circuit was commended for the revolutionary track lighting and the spectacular way in which it weaves the track through the heart of the city.
Now that Singapore has established itself as a premier venue for Formula 1, get ready for the biggest and fastest thing on two wheels. MotoGP, the motorbike equivalent of F1, is set to make its debut here as early as 2011 when Singapore’s first permanent race track is completed. Speaking from his Madrid office in Spain, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta told TODAY that his company Dorna Sports, which holds the commercial rights to MotoGP, has signed an agreement with a Singaporean company to stage a round of the 18-leg world championships here, when the planned track is completed.
LONDON - FORMULA One teams and the sport’s governing body said on Tuesday that a meeting between the two sides in Geneva had produced ’significant’ cost savings for 2009 and 2010.A joint statement by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) said the 10 teams were also ‘working urgently on further proposals for 2010 and thereafter’.
No details were given, however.
‘It was a very constructive meeting,’ said an FIA spokesman.
‘We welcomed the teams’ proposals and we look forward to taking the discussion forward.’
SINGAPORE - A claim by Formula One team Red Bull that static electricity from an underground train forced Mark Webber out of last month’s Singapore Grand Prix has proven to be unfounded.
The gearbox on Webber’s car tried to select two gears at once when he was at turn 13 on the street circuit, team official Christian Horner was quoted as saying by www.autosport.com
He said there was “a momentary electrical surge” at the time.
“A tram line runs beneath the track at that corner and it seems as if static from a passing tram at the very moment Mark was in the corner passed through the ground,” Horner said.
