Singapore F1 Grand Prix Confirmed!

[alien]

Singapore to host night GP in 2008 Posted on Friday 11 May 2007



At a press conference today it was announced that Singapore will host a Formula One grand prix for five years, starting in 2008.


The race will take place late in the season on a street circuit, but whether or not it will be a night event under floodlights has not yet been decided, an official for the government ministry of Trade and Industry said.
Contrary to earlier reports, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed on Friday that the first Singapore grand prix will be staged at night.


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


In explaining that the event towards the end of next year’s calendar would be the ‘first ever’ night race, the F1 supremo also hinted that talks to also stage the season opening Australian GP under lights next year had not been successful. (GMM)



sourced from http://www.motorauthority.com/news/motorsport/singapore-gp-confirmed-for-2008/

 

[drMpower]

can you confirm this? somekind of website or what ever?

its going to be a very interesting news for us - racing lovers.

 

[prodigy]

I guess its confirmed since the news has been published in most newspapers and most importantly, its been reported in f1-live.com. With Singapore trying to be one of the most important tourist destination in Asia, its only logical they jump in the F1 bandwagon and host it. It'll boost their tourism industry tremendously. Only thing is that they hi-jacked our idea of a night race.

The way i see it, the Malaysian GP will suffer in terms of attendance as Singapore is so close to us and i'm pretty sure tourist will prefer to attend a new race in Singapore, rather than attend a race thats regarded as "stale" by the F1 boss. Besides, every year the complains from the teams is that Sepang is too hot so the idea of a night race at Singapore will most definitely be well received by the teams. Besides, i think 20% of the Malaysian GP is attended by Singaporeans, judging by the number of Singaporean cars during the weekend.

Though Datuk Mokhzani has came out and clarify that Singapore GP won't affect Malaysian GP, i personally feel it'll affect us without question. However, Mokhzani came out with a real good statement in the papers today...Singapore will be hosting their first GP in 2008, Malaysia will be hosting the tenth.

 

[alien]

Though Datuk Mokhzani has came out and clarify that Singapore GP won't affect Malaysian GP, i personally feel it'll affect us without question.

i feel so too..
it will somehow in someway affect our grand prix..

 

[zan]

i understand that the 2 races involving malaysia and singapore would not be held close to each other. ours maybe at the start of the season, theirs maybe at the end of the season.

singapore street circuit may not be as fast as our race circuit, and conducted at night may reduce the level of excitement. the number of spectators may need to be restrictied with limited views.

one thing for sure, night race is kinder as the temperature is cooler. and then there are possibilities that JB receiving positive benefits in tourism scopes.

i wont go there definitely. to drive there? to park? how about other expenses? food?? SD10 for a bottle of mineral water perhaps?

 

[prodigy]

Don't be fooled into thinking one is at the start of the season, one is at the end of the season. Remember, the end of the F1 season is actually quite near to the beginning of the following F1 season. Remember few years back when Malaysia hosted the last GP of the season and the following year, they hosted the 2nd race of the season. The attendance was so badly affected. The same might happen again you know.

Besides, the Singapore GP may have a "fresh appeal" and definitely the tourist will choose a new GP over an old 10 year GP. Also, its a street race and most F1 fans including me enjoy street racing, just like Monaco. I might be tempted to watch it in Singapore. Maybe not next year but the following year or 2 years later when the hype dies down a little. And yes, speaking about mineral water, i freaking paid RM10 for a can of Coke on the this years Sepang GP. In fact i was so damn thirsty that i bought 4 cans for my dad and myself. End up drinking only 3 cans only and i gingerly brought back a RM10 Coke. They made everyone who bring their own mineral water bottle to leave it outside the track. Therefore, you could see like a thousand pieces of mineral water bottle just by the entrance.

But i do agree that Johor will stand to benefit from Singapore GP. First, Singapore definitely won't have enough hotels to cope with the number of spectators. I think the race would easily attract 100,000 spectators and there's no way their hotels can cope with half the amount of tourist and the only nearest place to stay is in JB where we have a couple of good hotels. Besides, some budget conscious spectators might wanna put up a night in JB.

 

[zan]

prodigy, next season must figure out how to smuggle our own pack of drinks...he he

IMO, the FIA might want the Singapore GP and Malaysia GP to be held on back-to-back basis event. otherwise, it is troublesome for the team to come to malaysia, then pack to europe, china, US and then come back to singapore. why must they travel half the world when they can straight go to singapore (or vice versa) after the race at sepang?

 

[Daniel Lee]

zan,
what you said about Singaporean GP and Malaysian GP will be held back-to-back do make sense too as FIA always wanted to be money wise but they might held the Singaporean GP towards the end of the season too as all the F1 teams need to pack-up from Europe and fly to China and Japan for two of the GPs held there.
This will also save up some money and thus wouldn't affect the attendance of spectators for the Malaysian and Singaporean GPs too much.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[lonely driver]

i can see someone said that a can of coke cost for RM10... damn expensive... i hv not yet go to sepang to watch f1 because many of them complaining for the traffic condition... maybe next or another year i will attend but in singapore... night race will be interesting plus it is very near to our country... besides, who will go there.anyone...

 

[prodigy]

Traffic is one thing, you ought to watch a F1 race live. The experience cannot be describe by words. Most important is to watch it in a grand stand. The whine of the V8 engine as it zooms past you at 250kmh is simply awesome. The whole grandstand literally vibrates as a few cars zooms past you. I'll give it 10 out of 10 for sound effects. Its well worth the RM500 that you pay for a basic grandstand ticket. I've had people telling me off saying its stupid to pay RM500 or even more for a grand stand ticket where all you see is cars zooming past you at 200kmh. I normally question them back, "Have you ever been to one and experience it?".

 

[Daniel Lee]

Well, I haven't experience the sound effect of those new V8s yet.
All I had experienced before was those V10s effect.
It was a truly awesome and terrific experience.
Hearing the noise of the V10 revving at high rpms delivering power to the rear wheel of the car zooming passed me on the track is simply exhilarating.

 

[prodigy]

Whether its V8 or V10, both of them are simply awesome. Maybe if you're a true F1 fanatic, you will easily differentiate between V8's and V10's. V10 engines have a slightly more sharper engine whine while the V8's is abit more rough and unrefined. Nevertheless, the vibration of the grandstand is an experience one ought to go thru.

My dad who's a keen F1 fan had expressed reservations when i told him i bought him a ticket to watch this years F1. He always says home TV gives the best view in a race. I cannot disagree with that but i tell him he's got to experience a F1 race live in a grandstand. I think the sound effect during the race must have shocked him a little, he obviously didn't expect it to be that loud.

 

[seydee]

I've experienced the F1 live in front of my eye twice and I forseen myself getting all the way to Sg. I have always wonder how its gonna look like watching a f1 car zooming in front that only meters away like the grand and famous Monaco GP.

I remember the moment I step into the grand stand and I'm amazed and thrill how steep and noisy the sound of an F1 car. This I assured never to be hear on TV unless you are there.

 

[zan]

i do not think visiting singapore during F1 round would be cheap. expect nonsense pricing...

juz like sepang.

 

[Daniel Lee]

I've experienced the F1 live in front of my eye twice and I forseen myself getting all the way to Sg. I have always wonder how its gonna look like watching a f1 car zooming in front that only meters away like the grand and famous Monaco GP.

Just make sure you have strong ear drums.
I been as close as less than 2 meters from a Sauber Petronas F1 car revving passed me.
The sound of the V10 engine at that time was truly amazing.
That was during the promo roadshow demo by Sauber Petronas F1 car.