F1 sanction Singapore Racing Circuit

[Charging Bull]

Another bureaucratic example:

There was one year when Kitaro (musician-popular for his Silk route songs) was invited to perform in Singapore and they asked him to cut away his long hair at Changi Airport, Kitaro was so angry that he took the next flight back to Japan!!

[Worlds of Earth]

That was a long time ago, when long hair was associated with an unsavoury cultural subgroup. But yes, it was rather ridiculous.

He came back for another show last year and didn't receive such inane demands.

[Charging Bull]

I guess they are now okay with artists having long hair, as long artists don't fall down stepping on their own hair

[Charging Bull]

Monaco versus Singapore

Monaco
======
Monte Carlo casino
Monaco F1 Street Circuit
Land area: 1.95 sq km


Singapore
========
Marina Bay + Sentosa Casino
Esplanade Street Circuit + Tuas Circuit
Land Area: 647 sq km



If Monaco can, why can't we?
Consolation Prize: we are not that small, still 600 times bigger that Monaco.

The Electric New Paper :

MONACO OF THE EAST?

IMAGINE the Michael Schumachers, the Kimi Raikkonens and the Fernando Alonsos of Formula One staring down from the starting grid in front of the Esplanade.
02 April 2005
Ernest Luis
ernest@sph.com.sg


IMAGINE the Michael Schumachers, the Kimi Raikkonens and the Fernando Alonsos of Formula One staring down from the starting grid in front of the Esplanade.

As millions of viewers worldwide watch the television camera pan out from the Esplanade's famous twin durian-like domes, imagine the drivers shooting off and braking hard, turning sharp right onto Anderson Bridge.

Or even towards Lau Pa Sat food centre on a longer alternate version of a street circuit here, before returning to the bridge via Robinson Road and Collyer Quay.

Put yourself in the driver's seat as you tackle the S-curve right and left following the Anderson Bridge, past the Singapore Cricket Club and the Victoria Concert Hall.

Zoom past the City Hall building and the Padang, sprint up Stamford Road and back down Bras Basah Road - past Raffles Hotel and Raffles City for the longest straight yet.

Zip into the Suntec City area, circle the famed Fountain of Wealth before powering back towards the Esplanade for the start-finish straight.

Singapore's skyline and landmarks instantly showed off to millions via television.

Singaporeans flocking all over to numerous vantage points around the circuit area.

Imagine grandstand views from the Padang or where the River Hongbao festival is usually held along the Marina Promenade Park.

Imagine swanky jet-setters from all over the world living it up with outstanding aerial views from Swissotel the Stamford, the Fullerton Hotel, Ritz-Carlton and the like.

In visualising such an event, allied with the possibility of a casino in the Marina area, Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA) president Matthew Lee said Singapore could well be the 'Monaco of the East'.

Monaco - a tiny principality off the south of France - is now the only strictly city street circuit on the F1 calendar.

Melbourne's Albert Park circuit (a public road around a lake) is located 3km from the city centre.

The SMSA - together with the Japan GT association, which is seeking to have sportscar races in this region - have done a survey, and identified the roads for a Singapore street circuit.

It measures around 3.8km, with the longer version up to Lau Pa Sat extending to around 4.8km.

In contrast, Monaco's Monte Carlo circuit measures 3.34km.

Said Lee, 44, an events promoter: 'We met with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) late last year, to discuss it in a feasibility study group.

'And we've knuckled down the exact roads for a possible F1 street circuit since.'

STB could not comment before press time.

But with everything still at a preliminary study stage, what are Singapore's chances to rival Malaysia and host an F1 race?

Lee replied straightforwardly: 'Money talks first, especially when it comes to Bernie Ecclestone (F1's charismatic supremo who markets the sport).

'This is an open secret in the world of Formula One.'

The cost for Singapore to host an F1 race annually?

'US$12 to 15 million ($20-25m) for a start.

'The Malaysians are reportedly paying around the US$12m mark,' added Lee, who attends the yearly conferences of FIA - the world body that runs Formula One.

What about the cost of setting up such a street circuit for a one-off Grand Prix?

Replied SMSA vice-president Tan Teng Lip, 54, an architect: 'The estimate is $30 million for a setting-up period of two weeks.

'Even if F1 decides not to come here, the street circuit can still be used for Formula Three, GT sportscar races or the FIA's World Touring Car races.'

He added that 2007 was their projection for when this street race can be realistically held.

But there may be a stumbling block in the form of Singapore's lack of racing history - the FIA's tendency to move away from traditional street circuits.

Monaco - widely seen as one of the most dangerous circuits because of its tight roads, and unrelenting barriers - is kept on the calendar simply because of its glamour and history since holding its first GP in 1929.

But Lee argued that Singapore may have a fighting chance to overturn the sceptics.

As he remarked: 'Look at the roads named.

'Unlike Monaco, there are enough long stretches.

'Unlike Monaco, our roads are very wide.

'We have the widest roads in this region.

'This encourages more overtaking, which is rare for a traditional street circuit.

'But like Monaco, the corners are challenging enough and flanked by great landmarks.

'Even Macau, famous for its Formula 3 races, is a very tight circuit.

'So from a technical driving point of view, Singapore has the potential to be one of the best and most exciting street circuits in the world.'

The vision again is simple: Singapore - the Monaco of the East.


Readers and motoring enthusiasts, what do you think of the idea of Singapore as the Monaco of the East? Any other alternate suggestions for a circuit in Singapore? What may work? E-mail us at npsports@sph.com.sg

[Pengui]

Uhoh !!! I never thought they would seriously think about it...
OMG ! I want it !

[Charging Bull]

First sentosa re-development, followed by Casino & F1 circuit and then Orchard Road re-development...

We are no longer hiber"NATION".

[Cliff]

What nation? you mean the party thing?

Wow, this is totally unexpected. Not even I (because I'm less conservative then the gov.)can visualise something so bizzar. It would be cool to have something like that, in the city, but would'nt it be dangerous?

They say we be the Monaco of the East, might as well say be the New York of the east. Its easier said than done.

[Charging Bull]

Not party, tourism in the whole nation has been in hibernation for very long. We are too contented with the sleepy Sentosa island and aging Orchard Road.

STB might have just started to realise that the 9 million tourists a year is our bottleneck. Even without Disneyland, HK is currently receiving about 20 million tourists a year. So STB will be under even more pressure when HK disneyland opens for business later this year. This may explains why we are seeing so many exciting (Casino, F1 & etc) events coming out recently.

Still prefer to have permanent circuit in Tuas, I think street circuit in the crowded place like city hall is very dangerous and can be a hazard to us.

[Pengui]

LOL do you really think they will let the crowds swarm around City Hall if the race is to take place there ? We're talking formula 1, not rally championship :-)

[Charging Bull]

Not easy to have a street circuit, not only time consuming and big spending:

1. Security is a big concern, police force will be stretched to thin in these two days event.

2. Most probably, organiser will not want to affect the business of the shopping centres around.

3. They cannot stop people from watching the race from the side of the roads

4. How if a race car speeding at 300km/h crash into a shopping mall or crowd?

5. Traffic in the city area would be affected and they will receive a lot of complaints. Not all are big fan of F1 race, some may not want to watch the race in their life. Can't you imagine what will happen if all the roads invlolved are closed for two solid days.

6. Will FIA still want street circuit?

7. Ticket sales is also a issue.

8. Not sure whether they can find a proper sponsor for the event or not. In a permanent circuit, sponsor names can be easily displayed at the circuit.

As the name imply, "permanent" race circuit is the "permanent" solution for us. After all Singapore is small, going to Tuas is still okay.

A permanent circuit in Marina East make sense, not sure why they still want a golf course there. Don't we have enough Golf Courses in Singapore?

[redstone]

I'ld rather have a circuit at Marina East than another space-devouring money wasting golf course!!!!


Why not build something that can serve as a landmark, attract more tourists, and generate greater revenue per square metre????

[Pengui]

Originally Posted by Charging Bull

Not easy to have a street circuit, not only time consuming and big spending:

1. Security is a big concern, police force will be stretched to thin in these two days event.

2. Most probably, organiser will not want to affect the business of the shopping centres around.

3. They cannot stop people from watching the race from the side of the roads

4. How if a race car speeding at 300km/h crash into a shopping mall or crowd?

5. Traffic in the city area would be affected and they will receive a lot of complaints. Not all are big fan of F1 race, some may not want to watch the race in their life. Can't you imagine what will happen if all the roads invlolved are closed for two solid days.

6. Will FIA still want street circuit?

7. Ticket sales is also a issue.

8. Not sure whether they can find a proper sponsor for the event or not. In a permanent circuit, sponsor names can be easily displayed at the circuit.

As the name imply, "permanent" race circuit is the "permanent" solution for us. After all Singapore is small, going to Tuas is still okay.

A permanent circuit in Marina East make sense, not sure why they still want a golf course there. Don't we have enough Golf Courses in Singapore?

1) Yes, definitely.
2) The only one to be affected with the proposed track is Raffles City, but it can actually be accessed directly from the MRT station.
3) Of course they can. Go to Monaco or Melbourne or Spa Francorchamps, and try to go to the side of the road I'm afraid you'll have to deal with a lot of security guards But it happened twice during the last ten years that a crazed guy managed to pass through the security to run on the track. One time in Germany, one time in England. Both of those tracks are permanent tracks.
4) This is extremely unlikely unless there's a major flaw in the circuit design. It never happened in Monaco. There was one big accident at Le Mans in 1955 where a car crashed into the grandstand, killing 81 people and the pilot. Now this was in 1955, and security was about non-existant. Last time a spectator died at a F1 race was 1994 (again a permanent track in Italy), and security has been boosted up again since this.
5) Yes, and actually 3 days, not two. But the race takes place on week-end, and in the proposed plan, the closed area is rather small, actually. The CBD is left completely opened as well as all the highways.
6) Yes, they wanted a street circuit in London recently.
7) Why ?
8) It's not an issue, signboards are very easy to set up temporarily, as it would be done for an open-air concert.

A circuit in Tuas would have no appeal, at best be a copycat of Sepang in Malaysia, and I don't see why F1 should bother going to Singapore if it has nothing different to offer than Malaysia.

[Kit]

Originally Posted by Charging Bull

Not easy to have a street circuit, not only time consuming and big spending:

1. Security is a big concern, police force will be stretched to thin in these two days event.

2. Most probably, organiser will not want to affect the business of the shopping centres around.

3. They cannot stop people from watching the race from the side of the roads

4. How if a race car speeding at 300km/h crash into a shopping mall or crowd?

5. Traffic in the city area would be affected and they will receive a lot of complaints. Not all are big fan of F1 race, some may not want to watch the race in their life. Can't you imagine what will happen if all the roads invlolved are closed for two solid days.

6. Will FIA still want street circuit?

7. Ticket sales is also a issue.

8. Not sure whether they can find a proper sponsor for the event or not. In a permanent circuit, sponsor names can be easily displayed at the circuit.

As the name imply, "permanent" race circuit is the "permanent" solution for us. After all Singapore is small, going to Tuas is still okay.

A permanent circuit in Marina East make sense, not sure why they still want a golf course there. Don't we have enough Golf Courses in Singapore?

Erm, in an F1 race, people don't stand at the side of the track and watch. There are designated spectator zones even for street courses. With the safety barriers, don't even think of stealing a glance of the cars if you don't pay. Remember, this is an F1 race, not some bengs' nights out.

[Charging Bull]

BENGS don't have time to watch F1/F3, they are busy at the Kranji Turf Club feeding horses.

[Pengui]

I thought it might be useful to have a map of the proposed track so that everyone can get a clearer idea of where it would go and how it would impact the traffic.

So here it is

[Pengui]

Btw, this is only my understanding from the newspaper article, so it is possibly not completely correct.

[RafflesCity]

where did u get that map from Pengui?

[Cliff]

I think he made it himself.

The route is very good, everywhere you turn is very picturesque, good for showing the world.

But according to pengui's map, there are quite alot of sharp turns, is that normal?

Is the scale of size about the same as the monaco's one?

[Pengui]

The track is a MSPaint job on a photography of the Periplus Singapore map
The track is just slightly longer than Monaco, so IMO that's not long enough, plus there are some serious weaknesses on the proposal, such as the crossing of Anderson Bridge which seems far too dangerous to me to be approved by the FIA. So I fed back to them with some track modifications and got reply.

I'll keep you informed if I can get some extra info

For the multiple 90° turns, that's not unusual for a street circuit. Former races at Phoenix, USA and Adelaide, Australia also had a lot. It's not really a problem as the streets are pretty wide. The track layout make it seem pretty fast to me, actually. Certainly faster than Monaco.

[redstone]

Originally Posted by Pengui

I thought it might be useful to have a map of the proposed track so that everyone can get a clearer idea of where it would go and how it would impact the traffic.

So here it is

Btw, you can't turn to Anderson Bridge from Esplanade Drive that way. You have to make a big detour.