F1, A1GP on Singapore radar
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.
"Whether it is A1 GP, whether it is Formula 1, whether it is the Le Mans type GT sports cars, whether it is touring cars…Once you got a stage you can invite different performers, if you think about it, it is a theatre," says Steve Slater, Commentator, London.
F1 has already got famous German designer Hermann Tilke to map out a street circuit for Singapore. His route covers the downtown area, including landmarks such as The Esplanade and City Hall. Channel NewsAsia understands that A1 too will be releasing its proposed street circuit design soon.
But some caution, that having both races may be too much of a good thing. One practical reason – many roads may need to be closed to accommodate the races.
Tan Teng Lip, President of the Singapore Motor Sports Association says, "Personally, I think for a country to handle two street circuits a year it may be too much to ask for, but I think for a start we might most probably do with one. If later on we have a permanent circuit, then more races can go there."
Whether one or two, F1 or A1, it seems the real winners will be motor racing fans in Singapore! Channel News Asia
01/12/07 (GMM) The prospect of a grand prix in Singapore has returned to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's agenda, according to reports.
The local government owned newspaper 'Today' said on Friday that the diminutive 76-year-old is "in talks with at least two Singaporean groups to stage a race here as early as next year".
Negotiations must be concluded soon, the newspaper added, amid speculation that one group is led by someone touted as being "one of Singapore's richest men".
Reflecting the apparent seriousness of the news, renowned grand prix circuit designer Hermann Tilke is understood to have already designed a street circuit that winds through the downtown heart of the southeast Asian country.
Ecclestone told Today: "Yes, we have been talking to various parties about a race in Singapore, but as it is, nothing has been firmed up yet.
"When we have something, you will definitely know about it."
Singapore officials declined to comment.
The Today article also revealed that the government is also considering an approach from the A1 Grand Prix series. This would be a lot cheaper than F1.
10/11/06 “I’ve been speaking to people about the possibility of a race in Singapore," Bernie Ecclestone told local media.
FIA President Max Mosley added: “If the infrastructure and financial commitment is in place, then it is always possible that Singapore could host a Grand Prix in 2008."
The drive into Asia gels with Ecclestone’s remarks at a business conference ahead of the first Chinese Grand Prix in 2004 when he said: “It (Asia) is the most important part of the world and I mean most important.
“Europe has become a bit of a Third World – when you see what people are doing here it’s quite incredible."
09/20/06 (GMM) The prospect of a grand prix in Singapore is again doing the rounds, despite Bernie Ecclestone's insistence last year that the calendar is too full to accommodate any new races.
''Until we can get the teams to agree to twenty races,'' the 75-year-old F1 supremo told local newspaper 'Today', ''we can't add any more.''
The southeast Asian island, however, launched a national team for the open wheeler 'A1' series this week, and community development and sports minister Vivian Balakrishnan admitted that formula one had indeed not dropped off Singapore's radar.
''Yes, we are looking at the possibilities of formula one seriously,'' he told Today.
''Formal negotiations have not started. There are multiple factors involved and there are multiple parties.
''So I don't want to raise hopes and make commitments that we can't fulfill.''