Expert: No announcement on Singapore F1 until after Malaysia F1 GP

If there's no Singapore F1 announcement this week, perhaps next week then?

"I don't believe an announcement will necessarily be made right on the eve of the Malaysian GP in Sepang because it will be a little discourteous for Malaysians if we did that. I'm sure there is a lot of negotiation going on at the moment, very high level, there will be a lot of things that need to be sorted out - rights and internally within Singapore on things such as the road closure and everything else," says Steve Slater, F1 Commentator.

Also giving it the thumbs up - former F1 driver Alex Yoong from Malaysia: "It would be better for Malaysia if it was the only track in South East Asia to have Formula One but at the same time I say a Singapore race would be good as well… there are obvious advantages to having a neighbour that has embraced motor sports so well."

Previous blogpost: Mark Webber testdrives Singapore F1 Street Circuit

Full article from ChannelNewAsia below:

S'pore F1 race decision possibly after Malaysian Grand Prix: expert
Patwant Singh 03 April 2007 2308 hrs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/268312/1/.html

SINGAPORE: The decision on the proposed Formula One circuit in Singapore is not likely to be made this week.

This, according to veteran F1 commentator Steve Slater, who is attending a two-day forum on Motor Sports here.

He told reporters the decision is likely to be made after the Malaysia Grand Prix, which is being held at the end of this week.

Formula One driver Mark Webber's spin through the proposed Singapore circuit last weekend was the latest spark to fuel the speculation that a decision on the Singapore race was imminent.

Tuesday’s forum, attended by some 150 delegates, saw more discussion on the business possibilities of staging an F1 race in Singapore.

So the stage is set for an announcement if Singapore gets to play host - but one expert believes that everyone has to wait a little longer.

"I don't believe an announcement will necessarily be made right on the eve of the Malaysian GP in Sepang because it will be a little discourteous for Malaysians if we did that. I'm sure there is a lot of negotiation going on at the moment, very high level, there will be a lot of things that need to be sorted out - rights and internally within Singapore on things such as the road closure and everything else," says Steve Slater, F1 Commentator.

The Englishman has been involved in the sport for more than two decades.

He thinks Singapore's proposal for a night race is a great suggestion which is being considered.

But there are issues to be resolved, such as driver safety and even television coverage, under the night lights.

On the bright side, the street circuit could have other benefits for the city, besides receiving international attention.

"We are talking about blocks and fences fundamentally that can be moved around. All cities evolve and grow every year, particularly here and particularly in Asia, so it's possible to change the configuration of the track, incorporate elements into the design of new buildings and it could become a feature of the city itself," says David Clare, CEO, A1 GP, Asian Region.

Also giving it the thumbs up - former F1 driver Alex Yoong from Malaysia: "It would be better for Malaysia if it was the only track in South East Asia to have Formula One but at the same time I say a Singapore race would be good as well… there are obvious advantages to having a neighbour that has embraced motor sports so well."

According to Yoong, based on Malaysia's experience, F1 alone has not helped the growth of the local motor sports industry.

He suggested that it would be good for Singapore to host both F1 and A1, because from his observation, A1 has been a catalyst to develop motor sports and has managed to garner a strong following at the local level. - CNA/yy

Singapore F1 GP - getting close... real close

I really think Singapore is close to clinching the F1 GP deal. This sort of reporting is pretty rare in this city state if it is based on pure speculation. The tight laws and press controls will see to that.

The article, which appeared today in Singapore's Today newpaper claims that a confirmation may come as early as next week. The paper's source also claims that the race (starting 2008) is practically in the bag and all that's needed is an official announcement.

Other news reports:

Channel News Asia - 4 hours ago
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/261788/1/.html

So it is no surprise then when both F1 and A1 expressed their desire to stage a race here. Singapore authorities have yet to decide whether to accept either one or both offers.

But with growing interest, and benefits such as making the city more vibrant, some suggest Singapore could play host to both races.

Yahoo Finance SINGAPORE, March 2 (Reuters)

Property firm Hotel Properties (HPPS.SI) rose as much as 15.8 percent to S$3.82, on market talk that the property firm has secured rights to host Formula One (F1) motor racing in Singapore, dealers said.

The firm could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Well, stay tuned to this blog. I'll make sure to post the official outcome as soon as it's announced.

Click the links below for related posts on Singapore F1 GP:

Singapore... Monaco of the East?

The Proposed F1 Singapore GP Street Circuit

Singapore F1 - possibly Sept 2008 & a NIGHT race!

Singapore to have F1 Street Circuit? Sepang leh, how?

Singapore Govt throws it's weight behind F1 Bid.

Almost there but not quite. But with the govt having given (1) it's approval, (2) made a statement in parliament that the prospects are "good" and (3) agreeing to bankroll the bid as well,... I think we can start counting some chickens. Though they may not quite have hatched, you've gotta agree that we can see little beaks poking their way out of eggshells.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said this in Parliament on Monday when responding to questions from MPs Teo Ser Luck and Liang Eng Hwa.

As such, he said the government is willing to support such a venture up to a level commensurate with the broader benefits to the economy.

Mr Iswaran added, "In response to Mr Teo and Mr Liang, I would say that the prospects are good, but there are still issues, such as the commercial terms to be struck between a potential race promoter and the F1 Group, the level of support required from the government, and the extent to which other stakeholders come forward with their support."

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/262158/1/.html

Click the links below for related posts on Singapore F1 GP:

.. Singapore F1 GP - getting close... real close
.. Singapore... Monaco of the East?
.. The Proposed F1 Singapore GP Street Circuit
.. Singapore F1 - possibly Sept 2008 & a NIGHT race!
.. Singapore to have F1 Street Circuit? Sepang leh, how?

Mark Webber testdrives Singapore F1 Street Circuit

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber took a leisurely drive today, around the proposed Singapore F1 street circuit in a black Renault Megane Coupe convertible. He had this to say about the plan for a night street circuit race:

[He] said organisers would have to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

"There's a few unanswered questions which need a bit more research, but that happens when you have something very exciting and something very new which is what we have here."

On whether such a race could be held here next year, Webber quipped: "If there's people walking on the moon, you can make things happen very quickly these days."

Previous blogpost on the Singapore F1 Street Circuit saga here and video + report from Channel News Asia on Webber's Saturday drive below.

Formula One: More work needed on Singapore night race - Webber
31 March 2007 1757 hrs
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/267641/1/.html

SINGAPORE: Formula One's Mark Webber praised a proposed Singapore street circuit after driving it on Saturday but said more research was needed into a plan to race here at night.

The Red Bull driver from Australia said organisers would have to look into lighting and the effect of rain, which could create glare in dark conditions.

"They are talking about the night concept which again is very, very new and pioneering and something which has not been done before in Formula One," said Webber, 30, who is also director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association.

"The question of whether it rains has been mentioned," he added.

"It requires a lot of research and development into actually understanding how that could take place in terms of the amount of lighting required to make the event safe for the drivers, for marshals and (other) people taking part.

"There's a few unanswered questions which need a bit more research, but that happens when you have something very exciting and something very new which is what we have here."

Webber took a "leisurely" morning drive in a non-race car round the 4.8-kilometre (three-mile) route proposed by designer Hermann Tilke.

Despite the potential risks, Webber said "all the drivers are very, very keen to race on a new street circuit, which is definitely going to be the case here in Singapore."

"It's a very clean and beautiful city and I think it's a real signature event if you can have a Formula One Grand Prix here," he added.

"I can see the enthusiasm and the excitement to have an international sporting event such as the world Formula One championships here and it's something which looks exciting, no questions about it."

Webber's test drive comes after the Singapore government said negotiations were under way to host a Formula One event in the affluent Southeast Asian island-nation and that it was prepared to offer support.

It has been reported that Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone held talks in the city-state with a tycoon who is bidding for the right to host an F1 race here.

Ecclestone was believed to have had dinner with Singapore hotel magnate Ong Beng Seng, one of two local parties jockeying to host the event.

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew said two years ago that he regretted not having built a Formula One race track to generate more money for the local economy.

Monaco hosts the circuit's only other street race, and there is no night race on the calendar.

Formula One organisers have made clear their intentions to stage night races to take advantage of time zone differences and boost TV audiences.

On whether such a race could be held here next year, Webber quipped: "If there's people walking on the moon, you can make things happen very quickly these days." - AFP

Singapore to have F1 Street Circuit? Sepang leh, how?

If you believe in the principle of no smoke without fire, as I do... then you will figure, as I do, that Singapore might just pull off getting only the 2nd F1 street circuit in the world.

The only other street circuit in the current F1 calendar, is the jewel in the Ecclestone crown, Monaco. Cote d'Azur. I've driven around that amazing circuit countless times. Well, actually once... in a rented Renault Espace MPV after dinner, the other times on GranTurismo 4 for PS2. And it's breath-taking

What does this development bode for Sepang? For sure, the Singapore F1 spectacle will have none of the traffic problems, parking problems, fubars, customer fuckups and service cockups that perpetually plague the Malaysian leg.

And don't discount the fact that speed-constipated Singaporeans make up a large portion of the spectators at Sepang each year. Will they still make the 3 to 6 hour drive (depending on what they drive lah) from Singapore to Sepang each year, if they have a race at their doorstep?

But whatever the outcome, a F1 street race in Singapore will be tremendous. I can just picture it. 22,000 naturally aspirated V8 horses thundering down Orchard Road, ignoring the traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, speeding beyond the 60kmh limit in the bus lane, during peak hours, and without topping up their cashcards for the ERP... that'll just drive every traffic cop on the island mad. I love it!

Related post: Singapore F1 - possibly Sept 2008 & a NIGHT race!

Corporate vehicle for Singapore F1 GP registered

After exactly a month with no news whether the Singapore F1 was going to go ahead, Today newspaper reports that a company called Singapore GP Pte Ltd, (helmed by the man who's been holding talks with Bernie Ecclestone since the beginning of the year) - has been incorporated with the registered business purpose of "event promotion".

Hopefully, a confirmation of the race will come sooner rather than later.

Previous blogpost about the Singapore F1:

Sickening: Singapore still dragging its feet on F1 GP.

Singapore F1 GP: Confirmation of Night Race by year end

We'll know by December this year if the Singapore F1 GP will be a night race or not, when the FIA makes known its feasibility study.

Read other posts in this blog on Singapore F1 GP, under the label of:

F1 and the 2008 Singapore GP

Singapore F1 GP - only a matter of time.

Another Singapore Minister (for Comm Development, Youth & Sports) sounding positive on the Singapore F1 race.

Bernie Ecclestone met the Minister of Trade & Industry last week. This minister was also at the season opening Australian GP in Melbourne.

Previous Post below:

Bernie in Singapore to meet Minister over Singapore's F1 bid

Singapore F1 2008 GP tickets. Priced from S$50 to S$7,000!

Tickets will be on sale from this November onwards. Corporate tickets first, and then sales to the public in mid-December.

Prices will range from a measly S$50 for the "trial races" (I think they mean the practice sessions or support races) - to a testicle-shrinking $7,000 for a paddock pass.

I've heard talk that hotel rates for track-side rooms will top US$1,000 per night. And that doesn't even include a 16 year old hooker to blow you while you watch the cars roar past.

Singapore Grand Prix releases estimated ticket prices for F1
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 July 2007 2121 hrs

SINGAPORE: Formula One fans will be able to get their hands on tickets to Singapore's first-ever Formula One Grand Prix by the end of the year. Corporate ticket sales will begin on 28 November, while public ticket sales will start in mid-December.

Singapore Grand Prix, the organiser of the race, said ticket prices would be kept affordable to ensure that many people would be able to enjoy it. Responding to Channel NewsAsia, Singapore GP, which controls 100 percent of the hospitality rights, said the cheapest ticket is likely to be around S$50 for the trial races.

During the actual race day, tickets will cost around S$100.

And for the exclusive paddock area, tickets will cost a whopping S$6,000 to S$7,000 each.

Singapore GP said it is fine-tuning the details, adding that mid-range packages would be made available.

These packages could include exclusive use of sky lounges for companies. There could even be an outdoor party, similar to a mini Zouk-Out, within the circuit park.

Some 80,000 to 90,000 people are expected to get a taste of the F1 action in Singapore. - CNA

Michael Schumacher. The Greatest of Them All.

Michael Schumacher. What remains that has not yet been said about this unparalled F1 champion?

Since he announced of his retirement, the summaries, tributes and mini biographies have poured, more so after his magnificent final race... a race against all odds to 4th place at the 2006 Brazilian GP recently. The debate whether he is the greatest F1 driver ever has raged non-stop since.

There is more or less a concensus on how Schumi lived each of his races and how he raced as though his life depended on it.

“I have great respect for Michael’s on-track achievements, just as I have great appreciation for the way he and I have been able to work together, off-track, within the GPDA, for the good of the sport.

“That said, there’s no question that it must be very difficult for the public to understand some of the things Michael has done on track, and to forgive him for not apologising for having done them." - David Coulthard (current F1 driver and race winner).

I think Coulthard sums up the what most of Schumi's contemporaries on the track think of him. He's the best driver but is rather ruthless and unapologetic on track, even for incidents which are clearly more than 'racing incidents'. Jacques Villeneuve, Damon Hill and Rubens Barichello have been on the receiving end of Schumi's... errr, single-mindedness on the race track.

4 of Schumi's incidents forever cloud the thoughts of F1 lovers:

1. Collision with Damon Hill - Adelaide GP 1994
2. Collision with Jacques Villeneuve - Jerez GP 1997
3. Ferrari team orders, Ruben Barrichello yields win - Austrian GP 2002
4. Schumi parks his car during qualifying - Monaco GP 2006

Luckily for you, I have the videos of all 4 incidents below. Enjoy and make up your own mind.

The F1 paddock fraternity agree with Coulthard.

"But though it might change as time mellows memories, he is also certainly going to be remembered, sadly, as an unsporting driver.

I've heard people say that Senna was also guilty of some dodgy on-track tactics. But it was a different thing with Senna, he was more emotionally driven, declared
his intentions beforehand and admitted them afterwards.

It wasn't a default setting like it is with Michael such as when he swerved off the
start line or when he was in a tight championship situation. There were just too many incidents with Michael. There were a huge number of things that happened that maybe F1 fans don't know about, the background politics or for example that Michael played the safety card but only when it suited him." - Martin Brundle

Martin Brundle is a former F1 driver, former Schumi team-mate and current iTV-F1 commentator - partnered by Murray Walker formerly, currently partners James Allen in the commentary box during every F1 weekend.

Here are links to views of other F1 commentators who travel and interact with the drivers each GP weekend. Murray Walker (retired iTV-F1 commentator, wildly popular and is the "Voice of F1"), Mark Blundell (former F1 driver), Louise Goodman (current iTV-F1 commentator - she's the chick who interviews the F1 drivers on the paddock after they DNF) and Ted Kravitz (current iTV-F1 commentator - the dude who runs around the paddock asking the team managers what's gone wrong).

I find that I agree with Murray Walker the most. Schumi's been at the top of a very demanding sport for 16 years. That's much longer than any other F1 "great", from Fangio to Lauda, Prost to Senna. His records and achievements are unparelled (go here for a list of Facts and Stats of Schumi's Career). You'll be amazed at what this man has accomplished. For me, his achievements and unadulterated racing ability more than outshine any of the shadows some of his 'ill-advised' actions have cast on his career over the years.

All except the one where Rubens was forced to yield the win at the 2002 Austrian GP because of team orders. Denying a team-mate his richly deserved win (Rubens was faster all weekend, taking pole in qualifying and led the whole race) , is unforgiveable, no matter how much of a "team-sport" it is. I think Michael did realise the unfairness and sincerely regretted it. The sadness, embarassment and his act of nudging Rubens to the top podium spot looked genuine to me. But like Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew when it comes to apologies, Schumi was deeply remorseful for Ruben losing the win, but would not apologise for taking it. That might be manifest of Schumi's inability to face his own mistakes that Coulthard was talking about.

In my eyes, he is the greatest F1 driver of all time. The greatest in talent, accomplishments and also flaws. And that's what makes him the greatest ever!

Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari - Schumi's career in that order.

Here's a link to Murray Walker and David Coulthard's Interview videos on BBC. They speak about their thoughts on Schumi. You need to click on the video link near the top of the page, directly beneath the title of the article "Who is the real Schumacher?". Clicking on this video link will open up a small window to view the video.

A link here to Road & Track magazine's interview (audio only) with Schumi on the sidelines of the 2006 Indianapolis GP. I found this interview highly entertaining and cast Schumi's more human and surprisingly humourous side.

And here's a BBC pictorial of Schumi's career in pictures. Remember to let your mouse hover over the pictures themselves to read the comments that pop-up.

And finally, the videos.

1. Collision with Damon Hill - Adelaide GP 1994

2. Collision with Jacques Villeneuve - Jerez GP 1997

3. Ferrari team orders, Ruben Barrichello yields win - Austrian GP 2002

4. Schumi parks his car during qualifying - Monaco GP 2006

2008 F1 Race Calendar. S'pore GP on Sep 28.

Here's the 18-race calendar for 2008, with new street races in Valencia and Singapore on the agenda. Both new venues still require circuit approvals, while the Canadian Grand Prix remains provisional.

Revised 2008 Formula 1 calendar (source: itv.com)

Mar 16 - Melbourne, Australia
Mar 23 - Sepang, Malaysia
Apr 6 - Sakhir, Bahrain
Apr 27 - Barcelona, Spain
May 11 - Istanbul Park, Turkey
May 25 - Monte Carlo, Monaco
June 8 - Montreal, Canada*
June 22 - Magny-Cours, France
July 6 - Silverstone, Great Britain
July 20 - Hockenheim, Germany
Aug 3 - Hungaroring, Hungary
Aug 24 - Valencia, Europe**
Sep 7 - Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Sep 14 - Monza, Italy
Sep 28 - Singapore**
Oct 12 - Fuji, Japan
Oct 19 - Shanghai, China
Nov 2 - Interlagos, Brazil

* provisional
** subject to circuit approval

The Singapore F1 GP will be on 28 Sept 2008. Hotel rates are said to go up 4-fold during F1 weekend. So, I'm now taking applications for the use of the 2nd bedroom in my flat. Please include in the application a full-length picture, your vital statistics and what you'll be willing to do ;p

For other blogposts on Singapore F1 GP, see here.

Singapore F1 - possibly Sept 2008 & a NIGHT race!

More updates on the possible Singapore F1 race.

- possibly taking place in September 2008! That's quick, because it's a street circuit and you don't have to build a whole racetrack.

And Singapore already has a whole lot of experience with street spectator events. They host the annual National Day parade each year, and already have all the procedures and assets in place to seat thousands of people along the sides of roads, how to move them from the suburbs into town using public transport.. and then back home again, the authorities have lots of experience managing security and people flow in a huge street event like this. All they have to do is build the paddock somewhere... hopefully next to my office on Orchard.

- and the other thing... it might be a NIGHT RACE! Damn... that's going to be interesting. It'll be like Paris-Dakar, WRC or Le Mans - but this will be F1. And it's going to be spectacular.

Related post: Singapore to have F1 Street Circuit? Sepang leh, how?

The Proposed F1 Singapore GP Street Circuit

Layout for the proposed Singapore F1 GP.

Looks fancy... actually.., looks like something from the City Circuits section of PS2's Gran Turismo 3. Neat blocky corners and a compulsory roundabout.

Fast straights into the slow corners should provide plenty of overtaking, given the wide intersections characteristic to Singapore's CBD.

And it's at night...

Related Previous Posts:

Singapore
F1 - possibly Sept 2008 & a NIGHT race!

Singapore
to have F1 Street Circuit? Sepang leh, how?

Singapore F1 GP - Malaysia unsure if it's an egg or an omelette

The Singapore-phobic Malaysians will have a field day with this. The Malaysian Sports Minister just voiced the long-standing thinking of Malaysian politicians and not a few citizens with regards to it's relationship with Singapore. That the two countries should not compete with each other.


It also demonstrates Malaysia's greatest fear: The fear of competition. Malaysia is paralysed by it. It is the main reason why Malaysia's relationship with competitiveness-obsessed (kiasu) Singapore is so antagonistic.

Malaysia believes in patronage, quotas and monopolies where money is made with minimum or no effort. It's believes in carving up the economic loot and dividing it amongst the stakeholders according to political & ethnic lines. That's why Malaysia's economy has official % ratios determining how much of it, each ethnic group should own. We call it the social contract and a guarantee of peace and prosperity for all. Others call it racial discrimination, cronyism and institutional corruption.

On the other hand, Singapore believes that economics is a warzone, where friendly fire is healthy and some acceptable losses are inevitable. It believes that it's one's own fault if one should starve because of the lack of work hard. It is a country where top professionals and civil servants legitimately earn over a million dollars a year, but there is no social welfare, minimum wage or union labour agreements. Nothing describes Singapore better than the phrase... "to make an omelette, you have to break a few eggs."

So, Malaysia... are you an egg or an omelette?


Related posts below:
Singapore F1 GP - only a matter of time.
.

Singapore... Monaco of the East?

Singapore just might be hosting a F1 street circuit GP in the not so distant future. The argument for it :- if Monaco can do it, so can Singapore.

Having said that, the detractors have been taking time out from being constipated, to point out that Singapore is not Monaco. It doesn't have the heritage, the panache, the 5 figure flat rentals, the falling signboards that flatten numerous former F1 drivers each year on the streets of Monaco... And right they are. So, what is Monaco then?

Jeremy Clarksons MotorWorld - Monaco

The Home of the Grand Prix of Monte Carlo. And also of every major name of motorsport. Whats it like to live there? Find out.

I think if Singapore plays its cards right (and admittedly, it has to get a very good hand), it has a fair chance of being the Monaco of the East. The Asian 1 million dollar club is growing at 5-10% per year. And the new rich, typically look for places to frolic, buy and spend. The moneyed Europeans and Americans do so in Monaco. But rich Asians can't quite flock to Monaco. Being Asian in Monaco is like going to tuxedo party in a white waistcoat. No matter how rich you are, everybody thinks you're the damn waiter.

Singapore could put an end all that. Let's make the whiteman feel 3rd world and out of place, for a change.

There's another possible Monaco of the East,... Shanghai. It has as much, if not more aristocratic, crazy money heritage than Monaco. It's got the Bund, the buildings brimming with history, the cobbled streets, and more recently the shiny skyscrapers. But it also has... communists. Millions of them. No zero taxation there, mate.

So Singapore... let's see what you can do.

Related posts:

The Proposed F1 Singapore GP Street Circuit

Sickening: Singapore still dragging its feet on F1 GP.

Somehow, they are just unwilling to come right out and confirm the damn thing.

Still... when commenting on the road closures, the Foreign Minister did say that:

"we [the govt] decided to go ahead, so I hope we can minimise the inconveniences to members of the public"

"Decided" is past tense, right? But the thing is... did he mean go ahead with hosting the F1,... or go ahead with the negotiations? Like I said... sickening.

In the meantime, check out Bernie's comments about Sepang:

"It's starting to get a little shabby and looks a bit tired."

"There is rubbish all over the place and it's not really a good sign for Malaysia. We're on worldwide television and it needs to look good, much like in the beginning."

Damn, for Bernie to say something like that to the press, it's got to be pretty darn bad. Bloody disgraceful too but as Forrest Gump would say... NEP will do as NEP does. This is the kind of shit that ALWAYS HAPPENS, bar none... when the best man never wins [the contract/project].

You know what?... I've got a feeling that in Bernie's mind... we just handed the long term F1 franchise to Singapore on a silver platter. Way to go, Sepang.

Previous blogpost: Expert: No announcement on Singapore F1 until after Malaysia F1 GP

Singapore F1 GP hits the roads

The Singapore F1 GP will be held next year on 28 Sept 2008. And yesterday, exactly one year before the race, FIA gave its approval for the finalised track layout. The finalisation of the track layout sets everything else in motion.., from roadworks, additional construction to the recruitment of race marshalls and volunteers.

Now the only question that remains is whether the race will be held at night. Confirmation will only come early next year but current lighting trials overseas are promising. In any case, the official Singapore GP website is optimistic. They've got their countdown targeting a race start of 8PM.

Go here for the news report on ChannelNewsAsia. It's filed under the date-category of 28 Sept 2007 with the title: 'Countdown to F1 race on 28 Sep 2008 begins, night race pending.'

800 marshals wanted for 2008 Singapore F1 GP

Interested? Here's an opportunity to be one of 800 marshals for the 2008 Singapore F1 GP night race. Unlike Malaysia's F1 race, there are no racial considerations or eligibility based on personal connections (ie. to Petronas, Proton or the retards in the local racing fraternity). Even foreigners are welcome if they are willing to spend the time in Singapore being trained.

Bernie in Singapore to meet Minister over Singapore's F1 bid

Bernie's in Singapore right now and will meet Trade & Industry Minister, S Iswaran, before he flies off to Melbourne tomorrow. He's met one of the 2 local bidders as well. Nobody's making any press statements yet as there's still the small matter of the non-disclosure" agreement.

But I reckon he's here to finalise the deal and shake on it. Why else would Bernie even bother coming to the little red dot unless the deal was pretty much in the bag?

Hopefully a confirmation will be forthcoming in a day or two.

Previous posts:

Singapore Govt throws it's weight behind F1 Bid.

Singapore F1 GP is GO, GO, GO! All lights are green.

Singapore finally clinches the F1 GP. First race is Sept/Oct 2008 and very possibly a night race (Bernie said so).

"I think we can drop the possibility of a day race" - Bernie Ecclestone responding to scepticism of a night race.

This is great news. Imagine, a F1 race that's a single train or bus ride away from your doorstep. It actually takes longer to walk from Sepang's carpark to it's main door - (there's supposedly a shuttle bus... but I've never actually seen one though I've been there twice) - compared to the MRT ride from most HDB estates to Marina Bay.