The Singapore Grand Prix

The 59th Formula One season which will start in March 2008 and consist of eighteen races is going to be marked with probably the most innovative debut which will take place in Singapore on September 28. The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix race is approved by FIA to be the first night event in F1 history.

The reason to stage at night is in striving of organizers to broadcast the event at a fitting time for TV audiences in Europe. With its origins in Europe, Grand Prix still has the majority of its spectators in there. The in-principle start of the race will be at 20:00 local time (13:00 Central European Time), that's why two tests of daylight conditions replicating system have been successfully passed by Singapore GP Pte Ltd., the official Singapore Grand Prix 2008 managing company.

The night start time is not the only Singapore Race distinction. Since the construction of a purpose built track is seen as wasteful, it was prompted to propose a street circuit. Singapore city state Marina Bay will play host to the Race. The 5.067 kilometres (3.148-miles) long circuit which serpentines the harbour area to the East of the city centre is similar in style to the Monaco Grand Prix. It was initially designed by famous German Formula One circuit's designer Hermann Tilke and consists of 10 right hand turns and 14 left hand turns. Due to specific shape of the circuit the race will be anti-clock wise for enhanced safety both for drivers and spectators.

The challenge is formed by 61 laps. It is thought that before turn 7 the cars top speed will be along Raffles Boulevard at over 300km per hour, but after crossing the ninety seven year old Anderson Bridge prior to the last turn they will be throttled back to 80km per hour. The 500m Pit Straight where the race will start and finish will be situated close to the new Singapore Flyer complex.

The Singapore event meets some concerns from the Malaysian authorities, who claim that it would create unhealthy competition with well-known Malaysian Sepang International Circuit which is only 300 kilometers away from Singapore. Still, the Sepang Circuit's Chairman, Mokhzani Mahathir welcomes the idea. Anyway, they are full of optimism in Singapore offering hospitality suites worldwide since November 2007. 80,000 general entrance Singapore Grand Prix tickets also are going to be available, three-day passes from December 2007 and single-day passes after New Year subject to inventories. It is believed that additional economic benefits will be derived from the influx of visitors of the Championship, which estimates say could exceed $100 million. The innovative spirit of the GP is likely to attract additional publicity and a number of sites offering information for this most prestigious of Singapore events are already to be found online.

The telecommunications company Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) will sponsor the event. Therefore the official name of the Race will be the 2008 Formula 1" SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

The inception of world championship race was held at Silverstone, United Kingdom in 1950 as a successor of some earlier events took place in France. Since that time it spread across the world and entered Asia. Along with Bahrain and China in 2004, Turkey in 2005 and Singapore in 2008, there are Abu Dhabi, Indian and Korean Grand Prix's scheduled for 2009 and 2010. Singapore Grand Prix 2008 success is essential for Formula One development worldwide that is why the role of the event is of a really high importance.A