Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button hopeful for Singapore GP

Title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are hopeful of a strong showing at the Singapore Grand Prix.

They believe modifications to their car will improve its pace at the street track after McLaren struggled at similar circuits earlier in the year.

Hamilton said: "We head into the weekend with renewed confidence following some positive tests and some developments in the wind tunnel."
Button added that "a lot had changed" since McLaren's poor race in Hungary.
The Hungaroring, like Singapore, is a low-speed track requiring high-downforce and McLaren were nearly two seconds off the pace set by Red Bull at that race in July, and 0.5secs slower than Ferrari.

But following a controversy over flexible bodywork, teams have been forced to make modifications to their cars and McLaren believe this will hit Red Bull and, to a lesser extent, Ferrari.
In addition, McLaren are introducing some major aerodynamic developments to their car that they hope will make it more competitive.
Team principal Martin Whitmarsh said he was "feeling positive that we'll once again be in a position to race at the front".
Hamilton, who crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, heads into the Singapore race on 26 September five points adrift of Red Bull's championship leader Mark Webber.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is third, followed by Button and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. All five are covered by just 24 points - less than a driver earns for a win.

Button said: "The Singapore Grand Prix will be a very interesting weekend because I think it'll give us a clearer idea of the destiny of the world championship.

"The last time we were at a low-speed, high-downforce track was in Hungary back at the start of August.
"Our car wasn't particularly competitive there, and maybe we haven't had a properly representative view of the top teams' relative pace because we've just visited two high-speed circuits.
"But, equally, a lot has changed since that race in Budapest - not least, some quite hefty revisions to the rulebook regarding bodywork flexibility and, additionally, a lot of work by the engineers at McLaren to ensure our car is now better suited to slower circuits.
"Singapore will be interesting for all of us - we'll not only get an idea of the speed of the Ferrari and Red Bull, but we'll get to see for the first time whether all our efforts over the past two months have helped put us back in the ballpark at high-downforce tracks."

Hamilton, who won in Singapore last year, added: "It's difficult to say accurately how competitive we'll be in Singapore.
"If Monza most closely resembled a track like Canada, then Singapore is far closer to places like Monaco and Hungary, where we've struggled relative to the competition.
"But the engineers are positive that we've made some good progress, so I'm looking forward to getting out on track and sampling the changes for real.
"The race should give us a clearer indication of exactly where we stand as the championship closes down over the next five races, but I definitely want to score as many points as possible in this grand prix."

Andrew Benson blog - BBC

4 more days to Singapore Grand prix

The containers started streaming into the F1 paddock at Marina Bay yesterday morning, with Force India, Williams and Renault ahead of the queue and the first to get their cars unpacked and parked in their garages.

By mid-afternoon, the pitlane was a hive of activity, with cranes unloading the crates of equipment and cars under the direction of Formula 1 logistics handlers, DHL.
The crew of the 12 teams can expect things to be in order when they take over their respective garages to prepare for Formula 1's only global night race at the Marina Bay street circuit from Friday to Sunday.
On the circuit, it was a picture of calm as workers put the finishing touches, giving curbs a new coat of paint and washing the track along the start-finish straight.

In and out of the paddock, there was a noticeable absence of the tension that marked the week leading to the inaugural SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in 2008 and last year's race.
"We have definitely worked out most of the teething issues after staging two successful rounds of the Formula 1 Championship. Everything is much more smooth-sailing now," Jonathan Hallett, Singapore GP's media and communications director, told MediaCorp.
"Everything this year is proceeding according to plan. Similarly, the teams have also grown accustomed to adapting to the special logistics a street circuit like ours presents."

But the lack of frenzy belies an explosive order of business that will ignite when the cars start roaring around the track.
Arriving in Singapore for the 15th stop of the 19-leg season, only 24 points separate championship leader Mark Webber and Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel.


McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and defending champion Jenson Button in the other Mclaren are between the Red Bull pair and with the five drivers desperate to be at the top step of the podium at the end of 61 laps on Sunday night, tempers threaten to be paper thin.
This is in part reflected in ticket sales, which have been brisk, selling out in 10 of the 16 categories and organisers anticipate a full house for all three days of the Grand Prix.

Justin Chew, Singapore Tourism Board's executive director for hospitality, F1 and sports, is also expecting a huge contingent of overseas fans to be at the Marina Bay street circuit.
"From what we can see of the take-up rate from overseas, the European crowd is returning in force after skipping last year's edition because of the economic

slowdown," Chew told MediaCorp.
"But we won't know the exact numbers until after the race."
Unlike previous years, hotels, too, around the circuit expect to be close to capacity during the weekend despite the high room rates of $1,000 and above.
Ernawati Setijo, Marina Mandarin's director of marketing communications, said they are nearing 80 per cent occupancy and expect to pass that figure in the next few days.
Said Setijo: "Without prior experience with Formula 1 in 2008, I think everyone entered the F1 weekend blind, trying to find what package worked.

"But all of us are wiser now. For example, we used to sell a minimum of four nights' stay, but we've rebundled it to two and it is working."

Ian dacotta - todaypaper?

Changi all set to roar in 2012

SG Changi in negotiations to bring MotoGP to the Republic

SINGAPORE -

It is widely regarded as the most prestigious race for motorbikes and has a huge following around the world.Singapore has its fair share of MotoGP fans, who are keeping their fingers crossed that one leg of the series will hit Singapore shores from 2012.
Singapore Agro Agricultural Pte Ltd's proposal to design, build, finance and run the Changi Motorsports Hub included a promise to bring the race here.

On Friday, their dream lay in tatters, after the Singapore Sports Council named SG Changi Private Limited the winners in the bid to build the Republic's first permanent racing track. But MotoGP fans here can still look forward to catching the likes of multiple world champion Valentino Rossi in action at the $330 million facility.
SG Changi director Eddie Koh told MediaCorp of the consortium's plans to bring in top-flight races. "The completion date is slated for the end of 2011, and we hope to start events in 2012 ... We have the intention to bring in a couple of international races like the GT events, and MotoGP," said Koh, who is one of four directors heading the group, which is fronted by Jurong Kart World and Japanese investors. When contacted, MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta of Dorna Sports was non-commital, only saying: "I need to see the official answer first (on the winning bid) before I sign an agreement with them."But Thia insisted his fellow director, Genji Hashimoto, had been in touch with Dorna Sports, and said: "We're definitely trying to bring in MotoGP."
Located on a 41-hectare site near Changi Airport, the facility will feature a 4km FIM Grade 1 and FIA Grade 2 certified race track, a 20,000-seater sheltered grandstand, karting track, a quarter-mile drag racing track, motor museum and 35,000 square metres of commercial space for food, entertainment and merchandising outlets.
Adjustments have been made to the original plan of a 3.7km track, to accommodate the FIM's requirements for MotoGP races.Three consortiums, Singapore Agro Agricultural, SG Changi and Sports Services Ltd, submitted their bids to the SSC on Aug 27 last year. D
r Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), called the project a "landmark in development", after the Republic's hosting of the world's inaugural Formula 1 night race in 2008."The Formula 1 race is the crown jewel of Singapore sports, and we view that as step 1 ... We need to go further than that, and that's why we conceived the idea of building our own motosports hub," he said at the press conference on Friday."We've chosen this particular group because of their design, functionality, financial strength, and also their commitment to bring in high-level programming and events."

SG Changi's proposed calendar of events include Japan's popular SuperGT Series, D1 Grand Prix, Formula Nippon, Asia Festival of Speed Series, and local events like the Singapore National Championship, Karting Championship and Drifting Championship. Training and education will also be part of Changi Motorsports Hub, with reputable training provider E-Rain Racing Academy of Korea set to be housed on site.
German sponsorship and marketing company, Norman, will work to bring in renowned racing academies from Europe.
Concerns over the project's completion date were raised, after the SSC decided to expand the site from 20 hectares to 41 hectares.But Dr Balakrishnan said: "Although it's a significant investment, I think it's still of a size which can be executed fairly rapidly, and I'm hoping there will be no undue delays."We will now help facilitate all their approvals for building permits and the rest of it."Because they have a 30-year lease, it is in their interest to build quickly and to start recouping their investments."



by Low Lin Fhoong

Disgraced F1 pair could face S'pore extradition

This year's Formula One race in Singapore could see more than its fair share of excitement - not all of it welcome.

There's talk that two former Renault team principals could possibly be extradited to Singapore to be charged for their part in fixing the outcome of last year's Grand Prix here.
If so, the resulting media attention and the possibility of a long trial would draw more attention to the disrepute that's already currently associated with this race - an outcome which can't bode well for this year's race, which is already seeing less interest than last year's, due to the dismal economic climate.
The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that Renault F1 managing director Flavio Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Symonds - who resigned, as the team announced that it would not contest charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix - could face legal repercussions in Singapore.
It said Singapore could possibly request the extradition of the pair and charge them on extradition crimes, related to their involvement in last year's race.
When asked, Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry S Iswaran said yesterday that he had not heard any indication that Singapore was seeking the extradition of the former Renault team principals. But lawyers whom we spoke to say an extradition is a possibility.
Briatore and Symonds have been accused by former Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr of asking him to crash in last year's inaugural F1 race in Singapore - in order to help his team mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso win the race, which the latter eventually did.
Briatore and Symonds are due to go before the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris next Monday. The FIA (the world governing body for Formula One) could impose sanctions and other penalties on Renault, including excluding the team from the championship, if it finds the team guilty.
And, now, there's the possibility that Briatore and Symonds could face criminal charges in Singapore too.

Lawyers whom we spoke to say it is possible the pair could be extradited and charged here for their alleged attempts to fix the race, but that it would depend on two key points.
"One, are they based in countries with which Singapore has an extradition treaty? And, two, is what they've done considered an extraditable offence?" says lawyer Nicholas Narayanan, who runs his own practice.
Briatore is reported to be an Italian citizen, while Symonds is a British citizen. Singapore has an extradition treaty with the UK, but not with Italy.
As for whether the pair could be accused of an extraditable crime, lawyers point to the list of offences in the Extradition Act in Singapore.
Mr Narayanan says Briatore and Symonds, if they did ask Piquet Jr to intentionally crash his car, could arguably be considered guilty of the following offences cited in the Act:

Malicious or wilful damage to property; Acts done with the intention of endangering vehicles, vessels or aircraft; or Criminal conspiracy to commit a serious crime, where the serious crime is transnational in nature and involves an organised criminal group.

Another lawyer - who has advised on extradition issues, but asked not to be named - felt, however, that it would be "a stretch" to say that Briatore and Symonds committed the aforementioned extraditable offences, even if they had instructed Piquet Jr to crash his car, and that it would be correspondingly difficult to extradite them to Singapore on such grounds.
Also, even if Briatore and Symonds could arguably be considered to have committed an extraditable offence, it would be up to Singapore to decide if it even wants to have the pair brought here and charged.

Observers have said that Singapore is unlikely to make such a move, given the negative publicity it would throw up.
Mr Iswaran also said that "this is a matter between the FIA and the teams".
"We are a host. Our job is to make sure we put on a good show so that the visitors enjoy themselves, have an eventful experience. In that regard, we did a good job last year and that's our target again this year.

The ramifications of the Singapore race fixing verdict

Andrew Benson The decision to give Renault only a suspended sentence for the team's attempt to fix last year's Singapore Grand Prix seems lenient at first glance.

And, all in all, Renault probably will be breathing a sigh of relief, even if they know they will be disqualified for two years if they commit a similar offence in the future.
As their employers, Renault could have been held responsible for the actions of Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, yet there has been no fine and no points deduction. Looked at in the context of what happened to McLaren in 2007's spy scandal, when the team were thrown out of the constructors' championship and fined $100m (then �49.2m) - Renault do appear to have got off lightly.
But governing body the FIA has obviously concluded that it would have been wrong to punish Renault for something that it seems it knew nothing about, even if one has to question the culture of a team in which this sort of shocking event could be considered.
Assuming Nelson Piquet Jr fulfilled his promise to tell the truth in return for immunity from prosecution, then the guilty parties in this case were not Renault but former team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds, who the Brazilian said proposed the plan.
They have been dealt with heavily by governing body the FIA, with Briatore banned for life from attending race tracks and Symonds excluded from any participation in F1 for five years. Although whether such bans are enforceable under law is another matter
There is, of course, the wider question of Renault's decision to hire Briatore as team boss in the first place.
The company's bosses knew full well his reputation when they took him on in 2000 when they bought and renamed the Benetton team. The Italian's combination of a mysterious past, uber-ruthless business ethic, and the ostentation with which he boasted of his wealth have long made some uncomfortable.
His actions in this affair merely serve to underline the air of amorality that has tended to follow him around.
It can be argued that a company with Renault's global presence should have been less eager to get into bed with such a man. But although Renault were ultimately responsible for Briatore's actions, that is not the same as saying they should be thrown out of the sport because of them.
And Renault, it should also be remembered, have been involved in F1 for more than 30 years, and until now have an unblemished record - which is more than can be said for many people or organisations who spend that long in such a politically charged environment.
In that context, this decision is certainly expedient.
In the wake of the decisions by Honda and BMW to quit F1, the sport could ill-afford to lose another manufacturer and engine supplier.
For that reason, F1 will breathe a sigh of relief that the FIA has not come down harder on Renault. Likewise, few will mourn Briatore's departure.
There has been more surprise expressed at Symonds's involvement. He is one of those super-clever and understated F1 technicians who always give the impression of being straight-laced and above board, even if at the same time they are extremely cagey about giving away any knowledge about the inner workings of their teams.
Those who remember the dark days of 1994, though, would not consider anyone who was with the then-Benetton team at the time whiter than white.
That leaves the drivers.
The FIA has concluded that Fernando Alonso was "not in any way involved in Renault F1's breach of the regulations".
Not everyone will share that view. Some, including it seems Piquet's eponymous father, believe the double world champion must have known of the plan.

This argument says that a driver as intelligent and involved as Alonso would have questioned the strategy devised for him by Renault's engineers for the race in Singapore, so would have had to be told why they had decided on it.
Others are not so sure. The strategy Renault adopted for the Spaniard was sellable without him needing to know about the crash. And if you were to try to pull off something like this without anyone finding out, you would surely want to cover yourself by having as few people in on it as possible.
Having questioned all parties, the FIA's own investigators came up with the second conclusion. And, at the risk of appearing na�ve, I have to say I'm inclined to believe that, too.
This morning, I re-watched the tapes of the immediate aftermath of the Singapore Grand Prix, when Alonso is joined by Briatore in an ante-room on their way to the podium ceremony.
It is impossible to hear the entire contents of the brief exchange, but it was the Spaniard who brought up the subject of the safety car and he did so with a sense of what I at least read to be genuine surprise. Sort of: "Wow, that safety car was a lucky break, wasn't it?"
Piquet Jr was granted immunity for blowing the whistle on Renault, and it is perhaps surprising that the man whose actions have been questioned the least in all of this is the man at the centre of the whole thing.
F1 will not miss Piquet. One reason for that is that he did little in his season and a half in the sport to suggest that he deserved his place on the F1 grid. But more importantly, by his actions in Singapore, he has brought shame on himself and his sport.
Yes, he was young, and yes he felt vulnerable that he might lose his job. But possibly the single most shocking thing about this whole scandal is that a man whose job it was to drive grand prix cars was prepared to deliberately crash one at the request of his team.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said that "beggars belief". And it certainly feels as if F1, which is not exactly known for its saintly moral code, has plumbed new depths with this.
However shaky was Piquet's position at Renault, clearly the right action in the circumstances was to refuse the request of Briatore and Symonds.
Piquet, who issued an apologetic statement on Monday, clearly regrets what he did. It's just a shame he was not able to see things as clearly at the time.
Piquet must take responsibility for his actions, and it should be borne in mind that he was put in that position by the appalling ethics of his team bosses. But he was also there as a result of the entire culture of the sport.
There is a climate of fear within F1 - the teams fear the FIA, and the drivers fear their teams. Few people are prepared to speak out when something is wrong, or even express an honest opinion on a matter of controversy, for fear of repercussions from whichever entity it is that holds power over them.
Ultimately, that is what has led to this appalling turn of events and if the FIA wants to stop something similar happening in the future, then it must look much deeper than simply one team's ill-advised actions on the morning of one race last year.

88% of F1 tickets for Singapore Grand Prix already sold

The Singapore Formula One race is slightly more than a week away and while it was a sold-out inaugural race last year attracting some 100,000 spectators, that will not be repeated this year.

Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.

With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.

Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.

Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.

Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us - as Singapore Tourism Board.

"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three-day race."

Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.

In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.

The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.

Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five-year deal ends in 2012.

Shorter F1 road closure period to minimise disruptions

Organisers of this year's Singapore Grand Prix hope a shorter period of road closure will minimise disruptions to traffic and businesses. Roads will be closed for seven days instead of the 12 days last year. Race organisers will also be beefing up public transport services during the road closure period from September 23 to 29. During the race weekend, up to 650 more train trips will be added, which will run until 1.15am. But what is significant this year is that all taxis will be allowed to enter restricted areas, without the need for special F1 decals.

Restricted areas include Temasek Boulevard via Rochor Road, as well as the single-lane road along Raffles Boulevard. But the new allowance does not apply to race hours, when only vehicles with F1 decals will be allowed in. Race hours are from 9pm to 11pm on September 25 and 26, and from 7pm to 10pm on September 27. Organisers hope the new taxi access will attract more people to visit retail and food and beverage outlets affected by the road closures. Justin Chew, director of F1 project, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are a lot more efficient this year, and we are a lot better. All the safety considerations have been addressed. So there is no need to avoid the area."

For race ticket holders, free shuttle services will take them to the race venue from Lavander, Kallang, Outram Park and Clarke Quay MRT stations. Those who will be heading to the affected area are also advised to plan their journey in advance to avoid unnecessary confusion over the road closures. The public can pick up an information leaflet on the road closures at petrol stations, shopping centres and hotels.

Despite the new measures to ease traffic congestion, some feel that more can be done. Michael Ma, CEO, IndoChine Group, said: "I feel that a lot of the roads do not even need to be closed at all, like in Monaco. I keep hearing the same story that Singapore is different from Monaco but to me, the car is the same - the same driver, the same organisation, the same speed. Why do we have to go through such hardship with road closures, and disrupt the whole city�s lifeline? And for seven days, that is ridiculous."

Race organisers stress that public transport is still the best way to travel into the Marina Bay area during the Singapore GP season, and it is also a speedier alternative for fans going to the F1 Rocks concert at Fort Canning Park.

Winning names for Singapore GP turns Announced

The winning names for the Marina Bay Circuit: Sheares, Memorial and Singapore Sling

THE names �Sheares�, �Memorial� and �Singapore Sling� will be on the tip of Formula 1 fans� tongues here and around the world come September, at the second Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

Turn 1 of the Marina Bay street circuit after the start-finish straight has been named Sheares, after the Benjamin Sheares Bridge which runs over it.
Turn 7, the scene of many a thrilling overtaking manoeuvre near the War Memorial, will now be known as Memorial. And the tricky chicane that is the 10th corner has been christened Singapore Sling.

The response to the It�s Your Turn at the Singapore Grand Prix contest, a joint effort by race organisers Singapore GP and Today, was overwhelming. Readers and Formula 1 fans from around the globe were invited to submit their suggested names, and we saw entries coming in from as far away as Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada.

Only those who adhered to the rules and conditions made the final round of judging, with contestants� reasons for the names they suggested taken into account. The panel of six judges met yesterday to pick the three best names to christen Turns 1, 7 and 10 and had to sift through a pool of 1,440 entries.

After a blind vote, the three winners came from Singapore. The top prize of two grandstand tickets, a pitlane walk and a two-night stay at a trackside hotel during the Formula 1 2009 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 25 to 27 went to wedding card designer Arthur Lim.

Showcasing Singapore

Lim�s suggestion for Turn 1, a nod to Singapore�s second President Benjamin Sheares, the bridge named after him, and the fact that the name hints of �speed and smoothness�, won the judges over.

Memorial, suggested by Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Chan Kwan Yew, proved a winning entry because of its simplicity, ease of pronunciation and its ties to the past. �It is a significant site, honouring the victims of the Second World War,� Chan noted of the corner near the War Memorial.

The most talked about and challenging corner of the Marina Bay circuit last September was Turn 10. Fittingly, the judges spent the most time deliberating that turn.

Most entries zeroed in on the fact that the old Parliament House and the former Supreme Court overlook the tricky chicane, with Judgment Day, Justice Trap, Supremo and the Court among the better suggestions. But the judges considered the difficulty of negotiating the first of three twists and decided on Singapore Sling, submitted by Foo Say Boon.

Simon Rock, managing director of Performance Motors and one of the judges, said the first two turns were Singapore-centric and offered an opportunity to tell the world something about the country.

�Singapore Sling, on the other hand, is known internationally and fans everywhere can relate to it instantly,� explained the Briton.

�It says more about the turn. Drivers have to be careful here, but it can serve as a slingshot if they tackle it well.�

Rock�s fellow judge Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, said he was impressed by the quality and creativity of the entries. He said: �Throughout the intensely engaging judging process, the panel deliberated for over three hours to arrive at an acceptable shortlist.

�Getting to the eventual winners was a tough task, but in the end, the panel was in accord on the final winners.�

The other judges on the panel were Today Sports Editor Leonard Thomas, Singapore Motor Sports Association president Tan Teng Lip, STPB F1 project director Leong Yue Kheong and former racer Lee Chiu San.

How will it sound on TV?

When contacted yesterday, Lim could not contain his excitement when he learnt he had won the top prize. He told Today he had rehearsed in front of his wife several times before submitting his entry for Turn 1.

�I wanted to make sure it would come off nicely from the tongue of a TV commentator and that it will be easy on the ear,� said the 37-year-old father of two.
�Sheares is also an historic name because it is the name of our second President, but it can easily be used to describe cars cutting through the turns.�

Chan and Foo, the other two winners, each won a pair of grandstand tickets and a pitlane walk for the Singapore Grand Prix. All winners will be contacted by Singapore GP on how to collect their prizes.

====And the winners are:

====Turn 1: Sheares � Arthur Lim

====Turn 7: Memorial � Chan Kwan Yew

====Turn 10: Singapore Sling � Foo Say Boon

Ian De Cotta ian@mediacorp.com.sg

Singapore GP revenue finally revealed.

Singapore�s first Formula One Grand Prix, which was held in September, generated far more tourism revenue than initially expected, a government minister said.
The event, the sport�s first night race, attracted more than 40,000 foreign visitors and generated S$168 million ($112 million) in tourism revenue, S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, told parliament.

A copy of his remarks was posted on the ministry website late Monday.
Officials had estimated the race would generate S$100 million annually in revenues.
Iswaran said that more than 110 million worldwide television viewers watched the Grand Prix.


Singapore has the race contract for five years and an option for another two.
With the global tourism industry in difficulty during a worldwide economic slowdown, visitor arrivals to the city-state are forecast to slide between six and 11% this year, Iswaran said.
The Singapore Grand Prix said recently that it will hike the cost of some corporate suites at this year�s event but would keep others steady. See this post here


Iswaran said plans surrounding this September�s Grand Prix event are in the final stages and "will take into account this year�s tourism outlook."

Ticket Price Review for Singapore GP

TICKET prices for this year�s Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix will reflect the current economic climate.

Singapore GP gave the assurance yesterday, and already in the pipeline are offerings like �early bird� packages, which will offer significant savings compared to last year�s prices in many popular areas.
�We are committed to cater to the demands of all race fans,� said a Singapore GP spokesman. �In the early bird phase we will also extend the popular one-day ticket on Friday with the lowest price ever to experience the Grand Prix.�

While the ticket prices for the public have still to be finalised, all corporate tickets except for the Paddock Club went on sale yesterday. The organisers are confident that premium corporate suites around the 5km street circuit for the Sept 27 race will still be able to fetch top dollar, which is why the price for the Stamford Suite, for example, has gone up. They now range from $5,000-$7,000, an increase of $1,500 and $2,500, respectively.
Said the spokesman: �Prices for some were raised because they were not realistic. The Stamford Suite, for example, had the same menu and two viewing spots, compared with other premium locations around the track, but were priced lower. It just wasn�t realistic.�
Singapore GP will offer a lower entry price point for this year�s race to attract corporate clients.
�We have introduced an option with The Green Room at Turn 3 at $3,388, much lower than the Sky Suite, which remains at $6,500,� said the company�s spokesman.

Singapore GP also revealed yesterday that they have been given the green light to make adjustments to the circuit.
Turn 1, after the Start/Finish line, and Turns 13 and 14, in front of the Fullerton Hotel and Esplanade, respectively, will be modified to provide more overtaking opportunities, while the entry and exit points of the pitlane will be repositioned, after drivers complained during last September�s race that the current design could cause accidents.

Ian De Cotta
ian@mediacorp.com.sg

Tweeked Singapore Circuit in Hopes of more overtakings

The Marina Bay circuit, which plays host to Formula 1�s night race in Singapore, will undergo layout changes in a bid to boost overtaking ahead of its second grand prix later this year.
The sport�s inaugural floodlit race was widely hailed as a big success last September, but organisers have wanted to improve the racing spectacle for 2009 and have now announced track alterations following discussions between themselves, the teams and FIA.

These are headlined by minor changes to turns one, 13 and 14 to try and give drivers a better opportunity to attempt a passing move.
In addition the controversial pit lane entry, which used the exact same piece of track as cars on a flying lap and saw Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello penalised for an incident there in 2008, and exit will be revised, while improvements to the bumpy track surface will be made between turns five and seven.
�While the circuit and the event exceeded expectations around the world, as with any brand new event, there are always things which we now know we can do better,� said Singapore�s technical and race operations director, Michael McDonough.

�Minor modifications are proposed on the track, at Turns one, seven and 14 in order to improve overtaking opportunities whilst the main changes will be to the pit entry and pit exit to provide added margins of safety for cars entering and leaving the pit lane.�
Organisers say changes to the first corner will involve moving the corner apex and reducing the corner radius in a bid to reduce entry speeds and give drivers more of an opportunity to try an out-braking move into the turn.
And after drivers took advantage of a concrete verge to take a wide line into the corner last year, kerbing will also be installed on the entry so to force drivers to take a narrower line.

Changes at turn 13 will see the previously tight left-handed hairpin, the turn immediately after the iconic Anderson Bridge, altered to increase cornering speeds so cars carry more speed down the next straight into the braking zone at turn 14.
In addition the geometry of turn 14 will be altered to give more overtaking chances under braking.
Meanwhile, the pit lane entry and exit changes will see a dedicated approach lane created, with the vast run-off areas around the final turn reduced, while the exit will be extended past the first turn so drivers now feed back onto the circuit off the racing line at turn two.

Shanghai may axe Grand Prix

Shanghai is considering axing its loss-making Formula One Grand Prix after the contract runs out in 2010, a senior official told AFP, dealing a potential blow to the sport.
Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, said the situation was being assessed and a decision would be announced next year.

"We're doing the assessment. By next year we should be able to give you an answer," he said in an interview late on Thursday.
China's biggest city spent 240 million dollars on the state-of-the-art Shanghai International Circuit and hosted its first Formula One race in 2004.
But the event has been plagued by poor ticket sales and Qiu said its fate was in the balance.
"We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie (Ecclestone) and the F1 organisers as well," he said.
"If this is something we can do, and our cooperation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.
"Of course we would like at least to break even. But there are two factors, one is the assessment the other part is the win-win situation that we can create."
Qiu was also cool on the idea of night racing, which Formula One chief Ecclestone is pushing in Asia as a way to boost European TV audiences. Singapore held the first night Grand Prix in September.
"In Singapore... holding the event at night is a good way to attract tourists to a small country," he said.
"I think Singapore is hosting this event in their own unique way but we have our own situation."
Formula One events are often run at a loss with this year's Australian Grand Prix going 27 million dollars into the red. France recently cut its race over money worries.
But Asia is a huge growth market for the sport with South Korea due to host its first race in 2010 and India joining the circuit in 2011.
Shanghai's ties have soured since Yu Zhifei, who helped bring Formula One to China, was jailed in January in a massive corruption crackdown which brought down the city's top official.
The city has already pulled its annual Moto GP race, although Qiu said the circuit was in use for most of the year by car clubs and for private driving sessions.
"Even if we don't run F1 after 2010 we should be able to cover our bases because of events are taking place in the rest of the year over about 200 days," he said.
"We want to turn it into Disneyland for cars. Fans can go there if they want to really enjoy F1-style driving and enjoy the thrill of driving at speed at this venue.
"Thanks to F1 we have already created this huge wave of car fever, so in that sense it is good news."
The Chinese Grand Prix is one of a series of major sporting events that have helped raise Shanghai's profile during the economic boom of recent years.
The HSBC Champions golf tournament is one of Asia's richest, while the city also spent "over one billion yuan" (146 million dollars) on the Qi Zhong Stadium to host the Tennis Masters Cup, Qiu said.
He admitted the tennis stadium was also yet to make a profit with only a small number of events held there since its completion in 2005.

ABU DHABI TIPPED TO SHAKE UP F1

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been lauded as an event that will herald a new era in world motor racing.
That bold remark came courtesy of His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, who is clearly not a man prone to understatement.
The founding chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management launched the vision of his organisation and country ahead of next year's season-ending debut on the Formula One calendar.
ADMM are not just in the process of building another new circuit, but an entire infrastructure on one of the many islands that make up the Middle East state.
Yas Island is being turned into a statement of intent for the United Arab Emirates as a whole, with the 3.4-mile, 21-turn anti-clockwise track at its heart.
The Yas Marina Circuit can be split into two smaller tracks of 1.9 and 1.46 miles, whilst other racing facilities include a 0.75-mile world championship-standard karting centre and a dragstrip.
For the first time anywhere in the world, the 50,000-seater grandstands will be entirely covered.
And because of the environmentally-conscious drive in Formula One these days, many of the facilities will be solar-powered.
Away from the track there will be hotels, theme parks - including one specifically dedicated to Ferrari - a shopping mall, the marina itself and a yacht club.
The piece de resistance, however, is the 500-room hotel that will straddle the track, affording those lucky enough to stay there an unparalleled view of the race.
Al Mubarak is convinced the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will eclipse those currently on the calendar, including Monaco, and most recently the spectacular event in Singapore.

The Singapore Grand Prix was incredible. They did an absolutely fantastic job, and the first night race was something special," said Al Mubarak.
"The track, the visual impact of the city, the organisation, for everybody that was there it was fantastic, and we look at it as a challenge.
They have done what we are looking forward to doing next year - setting a new benchmark - and we will do that. There is no question in my mind that this is a track that will set that benchmark in motor-sport racing. It will be the future of motor racing, and we will be the cutting edge in everything we do in the sport.
Like everything that Abu Dhabi does, we are going to do it right, it is going to be unique, it will set a new standard, and it will be long-term. That is what we are doing with the 2009 grand prix, and with the relationship we will have with Formula One.
It is the start of what I feel will be a new era in racing, not just for the region, but for the world."
Despite the many millions of pounds being lavished on the facility - which has in place an initial seven-year race contract with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone - Al Mubarak insists it will be money well spent.

The entire island makes sense and is an integrated development," added Al Mubarak.
You don't invest what we are nvesting in this island without being cost conscious and efficient.
But I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this event for the country and the UAE.
This is the epitome of sports, and being part of it, launching it next year for the country and putting Abu Dhabi out there for the global audience, is absolutely tremendous.
It is like having the World Cup or the Olympics every year. It takes a lot of preparation, hard work, but we are going to be ready.
We are going to deliver to the world a statement in terms of how we can organise world-class events, delivering a standard that will make the world happy to come, to watch and enjoy.

There has been talk of the race being staged at night, and it would be unsurprising given the hotel at the centre has an exterior outer layer made up of 4,800 LED panels allowing it to change colour.

Al Mubarak refused to drawn on a race start time, but he is adamant the track design - which has received input from current and former drivers - will serve up a thrilling spectacle of a race.
It has made a difference that we are building the track from scratch which has alowed a lot more creativity and flexibility in terms of how we designed it," said Al Mubarak.
I expect it to be a very fast track, a very competitive track with significantly more opportunities for overtaking than many of the tracks we have today."

Insider Pictures - The Marshalls story

It has been a tremendous long week-end for all of us Volunteer Race Marshalls at the Inaugural Singapore Grand Prix. Almost a 1000 of us including Medics and fire Marshall.

We were divided in 26 posts - 1 for each turn plus a couple in between.

Each section would comprise

• Track marshalls : The one you see helping clearing the Track or moving accident cars - Usually about 6-8 pers.)
  
• Communications : in direct comms with race control, reporting everything from spinning cars to accidents... - about 3 on each post
  
• Flaggies, the one who would come up with all the different couloured flags - to maintain race safety - around 4 to 6 per post


• Fire Marshall - to help with accidents - there would be at least 3 to 5 at a section


• Medics : to help with the first aid - both to driver and staff


• 1 Deputy Sector marshall ( Singaporean)


• 1 Sector Marshall - From CAMS Australia- Volunteers as well brought in from Australia to train us all for the past 6 month
  

I think pictures speak louder than words so here are some of the highlights of the week-end form our perspective.

See you all in 2008....