The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Singapore gearing up for first-ever night race

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Friday, Jul 11, 2008
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Sport - Racing : Motor

Singapore gearing up for first-ever night race

P. Srinivas Aditya

SINGAPORE: Preparations are on at a hectic pace to host the first-ever night race in the history of Formula One on a street circuit here.

Come September 28, this tiny city-state will host the 15th race of the 2008 calendar — the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix — in the heart of Singapore, in and around the famous Marina Bay.

The 61-lap street race,will be held in an anti-clockwise direction and the total distance of the race will be 309.087 km — the length of the circuit is 5.067 km.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, Lawrence Foo, assistant director of the F-1 Project Team of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), said a huge amount had been spent towards the smooth conduct of the race.

He said that the official preparations for hosting the race had begun after it was announced on May 14, 2007, that Singapore had won the right to host an F-1 race for a period of five years, with a provision of extending the contract for another five years.

Track care

A lot of care had to be taken by the organisers as the track runs through one of the busiest areas of the city — the Marina Bay and its surroundings. Marina Bay is also getting a face-lift in a phased manner and the target date for completing the renovation is 2010.

Around one lakh people are expected to attend the event over three days — free practice, qualifying and race day, and all things are expected to be in place by September 25, the day when the circuit will be inspected and the licence awarded.

Apart from the Singapore GP, three support races — Aston Martin Asia Cup, BMW Pacific and the Porche Carrera Cup, Asia — will also be held here between September 26 and 29.

The STB is organising the Singapore GP season centring around the race over three weekends. A number of events and festivities will be held along with the F-1 race.

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