Singapore Grand Prix
| Marina Bay Street Circuit | |
 |
|
| Race information | |
| Laps | 61 |
|---|---|
| Circuit length | 5.067 km (3.148 mi) |
| Race length | 309.087 km (192.066 mi) |
| Number of times held | 13 |
| First held | 1966 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Graeme Lawrence (3) |
| Most wins (constructors) | McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari (2) |
| Last race (2012): | |
| Pole position |  Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes 1:46.362 |
| Podium | 1.  Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault 2:00:26.144 2. Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes +8.929 secs 3.  Fernando AlonsoFerrari +15.227 secs |
| Fastest lap | Nico Hülkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:51.033 |
The Singapore Grand Prix is a motor race on the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The event takes place in Singapore on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural F1 night race[1][2] and the first street circuit in Asia.[3] Spaniard Fernando Alonso won the first edition of the grand prix, driving for the Renault F1 team. The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through at least 2017, after race organizers signed a contract extension with Formula One Management on the eve of the 2012 event.[4]
Contents |
History [edit]
Origins [edit]
First organised in 1961, the race was initially known as the Orient Year Grand Prix.[5] The following year, the race was renamed the Malaysian Grand Prix.[5] After Singapore attained its independence in 1965, the race at the Thomson Road circuit was renamed to the Singapore Grand Prix. The event was discontinued after 1973 and a variety of reasons have been suggested, including an increase in traffic, the inconvenience of having to close roads for the event and fatal accidents during the 1972 and 1973 races.[6] It is also thought that a surge of oil prices stemming from the Suez Crisis might have been to blame[5] (although the 1973 oil crisis would probably be a more plausible reason than the 1956 Suez Crisis).
Formula One [edit]
An agreement for a five-year deal was signed by Singapore GP Pte Ltd, the Singapore Tourism Board and Bernie Ecclestone.[1] In November 2007 it was announced that the telecommunications company SingTel would sponsor the event. The official name of the event will be the FORMULA 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.[7] The race was co-funded by the Government of Singapore, footing 60% of the total bill, or $90 million SGD, out of a total tab of $150 million SGD.[8]
Around 110,000 tickets were made available for the country's first Formula One race. Corporate hospitality suites and packages went on sale at the end November 2007, three-day passes to the public went on sale in February 2008. Single-day passes went on sale a month later.[9] The event went on to achieve a full sell-out for all of its tickets.[10]
The first race held at the new Marina Bay Street Circuit was the 15th round of the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship, and was also the first night-time event in Formula One history.[2] The timing of the night event meant that it could be broadcast live at a convenient time for European TV audiences.[1] The track was also illuminated by a series of projectors which adapt their output to match the shape of the course.[11] The race was won by Fernando Alonso driving for the Renault team, however that result has since been tarnished by controversy.
For the 2009 race, the circuit was reprofiled slightly, including modifications to turns 1, 2 and 3 to aid overtaking, and also at turn 10 where high kerbs caused many accidents in 2008.[12]
On September 22, 2012, the AP reported that Bernie Ecclestone and the Singapore Grand Prix agreed that the Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar through the year of 2017.[13]
Winners [edit]
Multiple winners (drivers) [edit]
Embolded drivers are still competing in the Formula One championship.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Number of wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Graeme Lawrence |
1969, 1970, 1971 |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso |
2008, 2010 |
| Sebastian Vettel |
2011, 2012 |
Multiple winners (constructors) [edit]
Embolded teams are still competing in the Formula One championship.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Number of wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | McLaren |
1969, 2009 |
 Ferrari |
1970, 2010 | |
 Red Bull |
2011, 2012 |
By year [edit]
Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.
| Year | Driver | Constructor | Class | Location | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sebastian Vettel |
Red Bull-Renault | Formula One | Marina Bay | Report |
| 2011 | Sebastian Vettel |
Red Bull-Renault | Formula One | Report | |
| 2010 | Fernando Alonso |
Ferrari | Formula One | Report | |
| 2009 | Lewis Hamilton |
McLaren-Mercedes | Formula One | Report | |
| 2008 | Fernando Alonso |
Renault | Formula One | Report | |
| 2007 - 1974 |
Not held | ||||
| 1973 |  Vern Schuppan |
March-Hart | Formula Libre | Thomson Road | Report |
| 1972 | Max Stewart |
Mildren–Waggott | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1971 | Graeme Lawrence |
Brabham-Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1970 | Graeme Lawrence |
Ferrari | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1969 | Graeme Lawrence |
McLaren-Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1968 | Garrie Cooper |
Elfin–Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1967 |  Rodney Seow |
Merlyn–Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
| 1966 | Lee Han Seng |
Lotus-Ford | Formula Libre | Report | |
Sponsors [edit]
SingTel Singapore Grand Prix 2008–present
Concerns [edit]
Before the first modern race took place, Malaysian Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said said that the proximity of the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, which hosts the Malaysian Grand Prix and is about 300 kilometres from Singapore, would create unhealthy competition.[14] The Malaysian Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Liow Tiong Lai stated that the Malaysian Government is unconcerned about possible competition from Singapore.[15]
Gallery [edit]
-
Bird's eye view of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, with construction of the Integrated Resort in the background
-
Same view of the circuit, circa 2012
-
Esplanade stretch of the Marina Bay Street Circuit
-
Kimi Räikkönen driving for Ferrari
-
Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen of Renault and McLaren respectively
Further reading [edit]
- Solomon, Eli (2008). Snakes & Devils: A History of the Singapore Grand Prix (Hard cover). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-981-261-584-8.
- De Cotta, Ian (2008). The Singapore Grand Prix - 50 Years In The Making. Singapore: MediaCorp Pte Ltd. ISBN 978-981-08-1341-3.
- Davison, Julian (September 2008). "Gambling For Matchsticks" (PDF). The Expat. pp. 49–58
See also [edit]
Notes and references [edit]
- ^ a b c "Singapore confirms 2008 night race" (Press release). Formula1.com. 11 May 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
- ^ a b "News - FIA green light Singapore night race". Formula1.com. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "SingTel to sponsor first Singapore Grand Prix" (Press release). Formula1.com. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
- ^ Collantine, Keith (22). "Singapore confirms F1 contract extension to 2017". Formula 1 Fanatic. Retrieved 22 September 2012. "The Singapore Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar for at least the next five years."
- ^ a b c "A History of the Singapore Grand Prix". Snakes & Devils. Retrieved 2008-02-15.
- ^ "Home - Sports In Independent Singapore - The Grand Prix". Singapore Sports Council. Archived from the original on 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ "SingTel to sponsor first Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ "Singapore wins right to host F1 race next year". Channel NewsAsia. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ "Introduction to Singapore Grand Prix". Singapore GP. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ "F1 2012 | Live Formula 1 Grand Prix news | ESPN F1". En.f1-live.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
- ^ "Let there be light - illuminating the Singapore Grand Prix". Formula1.com. 2008-02-08.
- ^ Straw, Edd; Noble, Jonathan (2009-01-07). "Singapore to revise track for 2009 race". autosport.com. Retrieved 2009-01-07.
- ^ "Singapore GP extends F1 deal through 2017". 22 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
- ^ "Singapore News - Malaysia jittery over Singapore F1 roar". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
- ^ "Malaysia unconcerned about Singapore GP". Motoring & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. Retrieved 2007-05-18.
External links [edit]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Singapore Grand Prix |
- Singapore Grand Prix Official Website
- Grand Prix Season Singapore 2010
- Singapore confirms 2008 night race
- FIA green light Singapore night race
- Asian Speed of Festival results
- 1966 Singapore Grand Prix newsreel
- Singapore F1 Night Lighting FAQ
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