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They are the holy trinity, in the
frontline, charged to pull off possibly Singapore's most
ambitious event ever.
Many will envy Teo Hock Seng, Colin Syn and Michael Roche.
Apparently, as the leading men in Singapore GP Pte Ltd, the
organisers of next year's Formula 1 race in the Republic, they
are now immersed in a world of multi-million dollar machines,
high-octane speed, beautiful people and champagne and caviar.
But speak to any of them and they will paint the real picture.
Of technical plans, charts, figures, meetings, briefings, more
plans, more meetings, teleconferences, loads of coffee and take-aways,
cold beers, handshakes, and hand wringing, and definitely some
temper tantrums and sleepless nights.
Almost always they will press home the point that it will take a
monumental effort to put on a successful show next year.
After my introduction to F1's flagship race on the streets of
Monaco nearly two weeks ago, I know something of what they're
talking about.
And I don't envy the task in front of Singapore GP chairman Teo,
deputy chairman Syn, and Roche, the executive director.
Just some of the mind-boggling figures from Monaco: Safety
barriers that stretch for 33km, 6,500 tyres as protective
barriers, 16,000 sqm of wire fencing, 900 tons of boxes and
1,100 tons of equipment to erect 18 grandstands and other
structures around the circuit.
The race organisers, Automobile Club de Monaco (ACM), employed
close to 1,200 staff, including 550 marshals, 120 fire-fighters
and 80 doctors for the three days of racing.
They were supported by two emergency evacuation helicopters, two
boats in the harbour, 40 ambulances and seven rapid-response
fire engines among a fleet of 117 vehicles, as well as two fully
equipped medical centres.
These were just some of the massive inventory ACM needed to tick
off to meet the safety standards set by motor sports' governing
body FIA to stage the Monaco Grand Prix.
And that is only half the story.
According to Monaco-based FIA race director and safety delegate
Charlie Whiting, the whole process of setting up the temporary
structures around the 3.3km Monte Carlo street circuit, and
taking them down thereafter, is a three-month exercise.
"It usually takes about eight weeks to set the circuit up and
four to take it down. The most time-consuming part are the
pit-lane garages and the grandstand opposite the Rascasse
corner, the last one leading into the start-finish line," said
the 54-year-old Briton, who is in charge of all race proceedings
at every F1 race.
There are 18 grandstands around the Monte Carlo circuit.
The grandstand opposite the Rascasse corner is a solid structure
of steel beams that seats around 3,000 and ringing the top is
the main television operations room.
From here, images of the race are beamed live onto the 12 giant
television screens around the track and into 350 million living
rooms around the world.
To make that happen, more than 30km of fibre-optic cables had to
be laid out around the circuit.
The first practice at every Monaco Grand Prix is on Thursday
morning, three days before the race itself.
Work starts the moment the sun rises.
"We have not only Formula 1 but other support races during the
three days and the roads have to be closed at 6am," said
Whiting.
"To make it safe, the track is cleaned constantly by sweeping
machines, and by hand, where necessary. Each morning marshals
also check every part of their sector for any debris which may
have been missed."
From Thursday to race day on Sunday, the programme begins at
8.30am.
The roads are opened to the public at 7pm, about
three-and-a-half hours after the last race.
Scores of security personnel and policemen are deployed
throughout Monte Carlo to direct traffic and people, and to
ensure that only those who have tickets are in the various
stands.
All the effort seems worthwhile, though.
On race day itself, over 100,000 visitors join the 32,000
residents of the Principality to cheer on their favourites.
In the days building up to the finale, tens of thousands more
descend on Monaco.
Karthi Moothusamy was among a party of 12 who flew in from South
Africa for the race.
They stayed in Nice, 18km away, because there was no room in
Monaco.
"We spent about 3,000 euros each for our flight, accommodation
and ticket to watch the race. During our four days here, we
spent another 3,000 euros each on food and other stuff," said
the 40-year-old, who is a businessman in Cape Town.
"We are definitely planning to go to Singapore next year because
we think the street race there is going to be spectacular."
With the Singapore race scheduled for late September or early
October, the leading men of Singapore GP definitely know the
score.
Ian and Wee's trip was
made possible by BMW Asia
The Monaco Grand Prix:
Facilities
1,100 tons of materials for grandstands
900 tons of boxes
33km of safety barriers
16,000 sq metres of wire fencing
6,500 protection tyres
500 fire extinguishers
32 surveillance cameras plus 7 mobile cameras
12 giant television screens
9 cranes
Personnel
550 marshals
84 fire-fighting marshals
120 professional fire-fighters
80 doctors
46 nurses
250 paramedics
Motorised fleet
7 rapid-response fire engines
3 extraction and extrication vehicles
3 service vehicles
40 ambulances
2 boats in the harbour
2 helicopters
60 race organisation vehicles
Medical equipment
30 vacuum scoop stretchers
30 cardio-vascular reanimation kits
6 KED immobilising apparatus
Medical facilities
2 temporary structure for minor surgeries
1 advanced medical station for large numbers of casualties
Hospitals on standby
2 at the circuit
1 within five minutes distance functioning as a Race Medical
Centre
1 in Nice within 30 minutes by road and 10 minutes by helicopter
1 in Marseille within 60 minutes by helicopter |
