I said yes, without any hesitation.
I have been following the Formula One (F1) since Sepang International Circuit (SIC) opened its doors to the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) in 1999.
If I recall correctly I had not missed any F1 races at the Sepang Circuit.
One year, I flew to Singapore right after the race for an assignment. This year, I took a weekend break from the Sarawak elections just to be with the thousands of local and foreign fans to cheer on my favourite team Ferrari and favourite driver, Michael Schumacher.
Yes, I give myself that once-a-year adrenaline rush (you get that even without having to be behind the wheels of an F1 car) – the heat (and the torrential rain, which could see the race being red-flagged), the sights (of gorgeous F1 drivers and their entourage of parents, celebrity wives and girlfriends) and the smell (of petrol and burnt rubber).
So, after 12 years of Sepang, I went down to Singapore last weekend for my first night race and a street one at that.
While SIC was designed with 15 corners (10 right-handers and five left-handers) and two long straights, the Singapore street circuit had 23 corners and hardly at straights at all.
“It’s braking all the time and no time to relax,” Vitaly Petrov said at a press conference during the race weekend.
On top of that, the Lotus Renault Grand Prix (LRGP) driver had to content with the timing of the race and the heat.
Both he and another LRGP driver Bruno Senna probably ate breakfast at teatime during the Singtel Singapore F1. Both professed to waking up in the late afternoon as they only get to go to bed in the wee hours of the morning after working on their respective cars after Friday’s practice sessions and Saturday’s qualifying rounds.
As for the heat, Petrov claimed to having spent time in the sauna to help him acclimatize.
As a spectator, I had looked forward to my first time to a street and a night race.
It was Singapore’s fourth time hosting the F1 and next year could be its last if the Singapore government and the FIA could not come to terms with the contract to host beyond 2012.
It is unlikely that Singapore will give up hosting the event, which according to reports earned the republic some S$100 million in tourism receipts alone. The branding element is also enormous. Last year alone, Formula One had a total global audience of 527 million people.
For years, I had associated F1 with traffic jams but in Singapore, despite having road closures around the business district where the race was held, there was hardly any disruption. Its traffic dispersal system was excellent. Public transportation also played a major role as most, if not all, the spectators took the buses and MRTs to get to the venue.
I left the hotel at 5pm to get to the venue.
I was given the S$598 Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand ticket. Sitting at this grandstand, one can get the full view of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resorts from across the waters. The cool breeze from the bay is a welcome respite after a searing hot day.
Never in my life I imagined walking into a race circuit through a shopping mall (if I had been a shopaholic, I don’t think I would have made it to Gate 7!)
As I entered Gate 7 after the security checks, I saw three counters - one providing information (with a “May I Help You? sign on it), a Survival Kit counter (selling ear plugs and rain ponchos for S$2 and proceeds go charity) and a Singtel Singapore F1 merchandise outlet.
Then, I heard music coming from the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, where performances were being held.
Unlike at Sepang where food and beverages are packed to go, I get to choose what to eat and drink from a multitude of food and beverage outlets at the nearby Esplanade Theatres by the Bay.
This was it? This is what the Singtel Singapore F1 is all about? Well, there are many grandstand areas around the circuit.
I was told the most happening area at the Singtel Singapore F1 is the Marina Pit Grandstand (tickets were priced slightly doubled that the Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand), something similar to our own Sepang, where you can get exclusive Formula One memorabilia and Singapore GP merchandise, admire the exhibits from various Formula One teams, and take part in a wide variety of entertainment activities.
So, the Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand was a “quieter” area compared to the Marina Pit Grandstand.
Once seated at the grandstand, I had the full view of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resorts from across the waters. The good thing about being seated here was that spectators can get the best view of Marina Bay Sands’ beautiful fireworks display after the race had ended.
And I find the crowd at the Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand a little docile to my liking, having being used to people blocking my view at the grandstand in Sepang or other people taking my seat despite the tickets being numbered.
Spectators remained seated while cheering their GP teams or the drivers they like.
After 10 or so laps, I left the grandstand area. It got a little boring. My intention was to walk around Zone 4 where I was to see what other activities were available for spectators (at Sepang, I would have left my seat after the first five laps and returned to the grandstand seat for the remaining five laps and trophy presentation ceremony).
I walked towards the Fullerton when the entrance/exit Gate 6 was, using the Maybank Building as a landmark. Along the route, the organizers had set up numerous bleachers (raised, tiered rows of stands) along the race track.
I exited through Gate 6, found the nearest MRT station at Raffles Place and boarded the train for Marina Bay Sands. I had dinner at the complex’s food court and saw the fireworks from there.
I took the MRT to Raffles Place, walked with the crowd to the Padang for Linkin Park’s concert and left the business district around midnight.
Besides Linkin Park, others who performed were global megastar Shakira, Grammy award winning artiste Boy George, reggae superstar Shaggy and legendary showman Rick Astley. They performed on different nights during the race weekend.
I was told some 50,000 people thronged the Padang stage every night for three nights that the concerts were held.
Would I want to do it again next year? Yes, definitely. Now that I know what the circuit and the race are like, I would plan the visit better. And I know the Singapore government will plan the race better very year.
* For the video of the press conference by Proton and Group Lotus, click HERE
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