In a media briefing yesterday to
coincide with the go-ahead from the FIA, the organisers positioned
the event as the “Monaco of the East” and the circuit will be public
roads around the Marina Bay area.
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.
Tests have been conducted at the Paul
Ricard High Tech test track in Le Castellet, France, last October to
study the system under real racing conditions.
And deputy chairman of Singapore GP,
Colin Syn, promised that they would stage a breathtaking inaugural
race for people to remember for a long time.
“We want it to be the highlight of the
social calendar in Singapore as well as across Asia,” he
said. “There is a big difference between Singapore and Monaco, which
is another street circuit. Our track will be much wider and faster
offering more overtaking opportunities.”
Colin said that the lighting was
designed to only shine from one side of the track. “”This is to
prevent the drivers from being disorientated in cases of spinning.
The run-off areas will also be brighter than the track.
“The street circuit is no different
from the evaluation FIA do on other tracks. In fact, it is stricter
because they have to ensure the track is safe before granting us the
licence,” he said.
Colin added that work on installing the
lighting system was expected to begin three months before the
event.
