Singapore announced its arrival on the Grand Prix stage in spectacular fashion on Friday as Formula One™ insiders and locals alike celebrated the opening practice sessions for the first night race in the history of the FIA FORMULA ONE World Championship™.
Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman of Singapore GP Pte Ltd, was thrilled by reactions as pictures of the city and its floodlit circuit were beamed around the world.
“There are feelings of both joy and relief,” said Mr Syn. “We are delighted that so many people in the Formula One world reacted so positively to what they saw tonight.
“But we are also happy that so much work by so many people – from our partners in government and private enterprise to everyone who helped build the circuit – has been so well received.”
Mr Syn, who can point to his own racing experience in Singapore some forty years ago, was equally thrilled with the healthy attendance on the first day of the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.
Senior members of the Formula One™ teams were united in their praise of the circuit, lit by Italian specialist Valerio Maioli, and its Singapore backdrop after the first three hours of Formula One™ activity on the 5.067-km Marina Bay track.
“Not only have we got a night race,” said Red Bull Racing’s Sporting Director Christian Horner, “but we have got a great circuit, a challenging circuit. Hats off to everyone involved – they’ve just raised the bar considerably. This will be a big boost for the series in general.”
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Director Norbert Haug described the Singapore experience as a big, big step forward for Formula One™. “Unreal – like in a movie,” added Mr Haug, “a completely new experience.”
The man whose Scuderia Toro Rosso team won the last race in Monza before heading for Singapore, former Formula One™ star Gerhard Berger, was also thrilled by what he had seen. “It was a great experience today,” said the former Benetton, McLaren and Ferrari ace. “The lighting was fantastic, and between the houses it makes a fantastic show.”
Maioli himself was quick to point out the scale of the organisers’ achievement. “I am proud tonight,” said the Italian specialist, “not only for my work, but because I participated with so many people to realise this circuit. What we have done would be impossible in another country – we had only 12 months to do it, and Singapore did it.”
On track, title rivals Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa traded quickest times throughout the three hours of practice but were upstaged in the final minutes by Renault’s former double World Champion Fernando Alonso.
All 100,000 tickets for the weekend have been sold, with qualifying on Saturday evening at 10 pm, while the 61-lap 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix starts at 8 pm on Sunday.
About 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix
The inaugural 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix will take place on 28 September 2008 on a street circuit of public roads around the Marina Bay area. The race will be the first held at night in FORMULA 1™ history and is the first street race in Asia.
About Singapore GP Pte Ltd
Singapore GP Pte Ltd is the race promoter for the FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. It holds five-year renewable rights to stage the Singapore Grand Prix, beginning with the 2008 Season. The company is a partnership between Komoco Motors and regional events company Lushington Entertainments, via its parent company Reef Enterprises.
