Singapore GP F1 readies for the inaugural run

Singapore Grand Prix is all set to stage a major milestone in the history of F1 racing by staging its inaugural run on the new race tracks of Singapore on 28th of September 2008 in the Marina Bay area. This also will be Formula One's first night race. The events around the F1 race are spread over the weekend beginning September 26. Two days of practice runs will each average 50,000 visitors to the race circuit while around 100,000 people, including 40,000 overseas visitors, are expected to attend the 800th Formula One World Championship race. The race would take place on a 5.067 kilometer track and will be illuminated by a series of projectors which adapt their output to match the shape of the course.This 61-lap circuit will run in an anti-clockwise direction - making it only one of three on the F1 schedule in 2008.

The race will take the drivers along Singapore's historical landmarks, including the 100-year-old Anderson Bridge and the Raffles Boulevard. And what's more unique is the setting up of a state-of-the-art lighting system.

Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SingTel), the title sponsor of the event, had unveiled trophies on 18th September'08. The trophy designed by an award-winning multi-disciplinary local artist, Zulkifle Mahmod, is layered with 20 pewter panels in various sizes that projected iconic colours of the chequered flag.

The official name of the event is FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and it has been co-funded by the Government of Singapore, footing 60 per cent of the total bill. The total costs of the event have been estimated to be around US$ 150 million, though it could not be officially confirmed.

The fifteenth race of the 2008 season sees Bridgestone revert to its 'soft' and 'super soft' tyres for the mix of slow-, medium- and high-speed corners and top speeds approaching 300kph, but with an added element as most of the action will take place after dark.

One of the websites has cited that around 80,000 tickets were available out of which 95 per cent has already been sold out. Passes have also been doled out to a huge section of people. Over 70 per of the corporate hospitality packages have now been sold, including all the Sky Suites at the Pit Grandstand, Pit Exit and Turns 1 and 2, in addition to the Club Suites at the Pit Entry.

source: wheels unplugged