Singapor Grand Prix to be announced (perhaps)
Singapor Grand Prix to be announced (perhaps)
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XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Some gossip and rumour to listen out for during the Spanish GP weekend.

The talk on the ground here in Singapore is that there is / may / possibly be an announcement at the Spanish GP that Singapore will be hosting a Grand Prix for 2008.

The key players in the SG GP have registered the company and put significant capital into the venture already, rumour goes that the circuit has already been chosen and “designed” and that contracts have been presented and finalised between Bernie and the Representatives here in Singapore.

The two especially cool parts are these

1 – the rumour monkeys say that the SG GP will be a street circuit of 4.8KM through the Central Business District and Marine Parade. The highways are significantly wide enough for plenty of overtaking and the noise between the high rise office blocks will be positively orgasmic!!!

2 – the rumours also say that both Bernie and the Singapore Representatives are proposing that it will be a Night Race!!!

There is lots of advertising going on here and constant articles in the press so there is some sort of founding behind these stories, but will have to wait and see.

Anyway, its all rumour but keep your eyes open for an announcement in Spain for a new street circuit and a night race!!

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
It's been rumoured for a while now, and I'm very excited about it.

I love Singapore - I've been there 2 or 3 times now and muy wife was an ex-Pat there for 2 years and her enthusiasm for the place is infectious.

If there were a Singapore GP then we would make a big effort to be there for it and have a couple of weeks' holiday there as well.

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
JonRB said:
It's been rumoured for a while now, and I'm very excited about it.

I love Singapore - I've been there 2 or 3 times now and muy wife was an ex-Pat there for 2 years and her enthusiasm for the place is infectious.

If there were a Singapore GP then we would make a big effort to be there for it and have a couple of weeks' holiday there as well.


The rumours seem to have moved up a (flappy paddle) gear or 3!!

If there is, give me a shout, see if i can blag any good viewing spots

megy

2,429 posts

243 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
CONFIRMED for 2008

itv-f1 said:

Singapore is to stage Formula 1’s first night-time race in 2008 after the country confirmed a five-year deal with Bernie Ecclestone on Friday.

The Southeast Asian country will have the honour of hosting F1’s first race under floodlights, with the inaugural event on a new street circuit pencilled in for next September or October.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation about whether Singapore would feature on next year’s calendar and is the second new street race to be added to the 2008 schedule in as many days, after Valencia confirmed its own grand prix from next season.

“I am very pleased to welcome Singapore to the Formula 1 family and we look forward to this exotic addition to the championship,” Ecclestone said.

“This will be the first fully lit street race in Formula 1.

“As a night race we anticipate it will quickly establish itself as one of the most dramatic and atmospheric races on our calendar.

“I know the Formula 1 drivers, teams and fans are all looking forward to coming to Singapore next year.”

The race will take place on public roads around the downtown Marina Bay area, with the race proposals including powerful lighting systems that will replicate daylight conditions and stringent safety measures to ensure both driver and spectator safety.


“It will be more than just a motor race,” said Singapore's minister of state for trade and industry, Mr S Iswaran.

“We envision it to be a national festival, and one that presents many opportunities for participation for everyone, both visitors and Singaporeans alike.

“Singaporeans are excited about the race coming to Singapore and I share their enthusiasm.

"Singapore looks forward to welcoming the Formula 1 drivers, teams and fans to Singapore next year.”

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all


I can't predict our plans for next year, but if we can be there next year then we will be.

sosidge

700 posts

244 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
Night Race = madness. This isn't a game of Gran Turismo.

The cars won't carry lights, if they did it would substantially affect aero, so that means a colossal amount of day-for-night electric lighting - not going to wash well with the climate change lobby.

Bernie really has gone mad!

snoggledog

9,255 posts

246 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
Night Race????? Dear god if they do that then they might as well go the whole hog and go for a 24 hour race. No wait. someone else already does that!

heebeegeetee

30,124 posts

277 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
We do not need a night race in F1. It is a gimmick for numpties.

If anyone wants this sort of thing I think Scalextric might help them out.

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
sosidge said:
Bernie really has gone mad!

Not really - he's just not looking at the big picture.

You're quite right, it is not environmentally friendly. But, crucially, it means that he can maximise his advertising revenue by having the race able to be screened live in Western Europe during it's usual slot somehere in the middle of the Sunday rather than being in the early hours like most Far Eastern races are.

heebeegeetee said:
We do not need a night race in F1. It is a gimmick for numpties.

I don't think so. As I said, I think it's simply so that the race can be screened live at the "right" time.


Edited by JonRB on Friday 11th May 15:55

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Saturday 12th May 2007
quotequote all
heebeegeetee said:
We do not need a night race in F1. It is a gimmick for numpties.

If anyone wants this sort of thing I think Scalextric might help them out.


It will be a night race here for a few reasons i imagine

1 - Good time for European timezone
2 - Trust me, you will not want to be a spectator in a temporary grandstand of a street race here under the midday sun
3 - the sun is significantly more powerful here than in sepang, australia or Middle east, sue to being only 90 miles from the equator - if local spectators dont want to be out in it, think what the drivers will feel like.
4 - we are very punctual here, between 2:30 and 3:30 we get a thunder storm every day ... (and this is rain forest so i mean REAL thunderstorm - 3 inches of water in 10 minutes stuff)

anyway ... if anyone is planning on heading out once the dates are set, give me a shout if you need any hotel recommendations or directions to good pubs

(i suspect i am the only Pistonheads Regular down here!!!)

heebeegeetee

30,124 posts

277 months

Saturday 12th May 2007
quotequote all
Oh right, fair comments and good points.
I was very concerned that it was just another gimmick from people who deeply do not understand racing. They've done enough damage as it is.

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Saturday 12th May 2007
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
between 2:30 and 3:30 we get a thunder storm every day ... (and this is rain forest so i mean REAL thunderstorm - 3 inches of water in 10 minutes stuff)

Now THAT would be a race worth seeing.

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Sunday 13th May 2007
quotequote all
heebeegeetee said:
Oh right, fair comments and good points.
I was very concerned that it was just another gimmick from people who deeply do not understand racing. They've done enough damage as it is.


Trust me on this, no sporting events happen here at midday.

Schoolkids do their PE lessons at 7 in the morning for example.

When the Rugby 7's are in town they are morning and evening games, and the specatators are dropping like flies from the heat and sun (beer may be aiding this) ... the players have been training in teh heat for long enough to acclimatise, but the number of hospital cases from heat and sun stroke victims in the crownd is seriously high!!

yes, the flip side of this is that its timed nicely for European viewing too and i have no doubt that that is a major factor in this, but as someone who lives here, i would not want to watch the race live during the day!!


edit - think of the phrase "mad dogs and Englishmen in the noonday sun" ...

Edited by XJSJohn on Sunday 13th May 04:44

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Monday 14th May 2007
quotequote all
Well, if anyone is interested in a look, this is the proposed route for the Singapore Grand Prix, as released to the local press today!!



Its a 4.8km street circuite

for some ideas of what that realy looks like, i have dug out a few pictures of teh area to get some impression.

This is Esplanade Bridge looking towards the Fullerton (where the hairpin at bottom left of map is)



and this is looking towards Marina Square from somewhere off the map bottom left (looking north east), the big tower is the Milenia Tower, the "pyramid" shaped building in the Mid Ground is the Marina Mandarin and the wierd beetle looking building is the Esplanade Theatre (locally known as the Durian Building)



actually looks rather cool!! not to figure out which will be the bets grandstand ...

if anyone wants to read some of the local articles they are all online in www.todayonline.com/ (bottom right of page gives you a PDF of the paper)

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Monday 14th May 2007
quotequote all
Has the date been released yet?

If I'm to have any chance of coming it has to be during the UK school holidays (I have a son, you see).


Edited by JonRB on Monday 14th May 10:07

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Monday 14th May 2007
quotequote all
JonRB said:
Has the date been released yet?

If I'm to have any chance of coming it has to be during the UK school holidays (I have a son, you see).


Edited by JonRB on Monday 14th May 10:07


no fixed date but they say September or October

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Monday 14th May 2007
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
no fixed date but they say September or October

That's not looking so good.

I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Thursday 12th July 2007
quotequote all
Any news in the local papers about dates yet, John?

XJSJohn

Original Poster:

16,151 posts

248 months

Friday 13th July 2007
quotequote all
JonRB said:
Any news in the local papers about dates yet, John?
nothing on dates, but the general mutterings is that it will be at the end of the season on the way to Japan.


edit to add, these is this website that will keep you posted. Can register for mailshot as soon as dates and tickets are announced

http://www.f1singapore.com/

Edited by XJSJohn on Friday 13th July 07:12

JonRB

80,014 posts

301 months

Friday 13th July 2007
quotequote all
XJSJohn said:
edit to add, these is this website that will keep you posted. Can register for mailshot as soon as dates and tickets are announced
Thanks John - have registered. thumbup