Singapore : Race officials return to track for F1

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) said more than 1,000 new people have expressed interest to be race officials for this year's Singapore Formula One Grand Prix.

SSC is looking to sign on about 400 new volunteers to beef up its team of race officials. This will be in addition to the over 950 officials who will once again return to the tracks. SSC will also bring on board about 20 new senior race officials, who will be taking on various roles such as Deputy Chief Pit Marshal and Deputy Sector Marshals.

All successful applicants will be notified of their selection by the end of this month.

This year's race will see the return of some of motorsports' seasoned race officials.

They include Gabriel Tan who will again be taking the role as Clerk of the Course.

In preparation for this year's race, some senior race officials will be involved in several training stints in Australia, namely the clipsal 500 in Adelaide and Australian GP in Melbourne.

CNA

Our visit to Williams Motorhome in Singapore

Many Thanks to Phillips Singapore, for we had the pleasure to be invited to the Williams Team Motorhome during last week Formula1 Grand Prix in Singapore.

Also invited was famous Singaporean Blogger "Mr Brown"

To help the AT&T Williams team get geared up for the race in Singapore Philips has decked out the team motorhome with an array of the best PHILIPS LIFESTYLE Products that provides an immersive experience around the concept of health and well-being. It provides a dream motorhome that showcases Philips Lifestyle consumer products for keeping the whole Williams Team in peak physical and mental condition for the race.

On our guided tour of the Motorhome we were introduced to the various zones that caters to the Team.

The dining and relaxation area : where team members, drivers can have a snack, drink, or just sit down for an interview and coffee, watch TV etc.. equiped with the latest Philips Lighting controls like LivingColours LED Lamps, TV, DVD blu RAY player, air purifiers.

The Food preparation area : The Kitchen run by Chef Adam Dixon, showcases some of the best food processing equipments Philips has to offer to guarantee Healthy cooking for both drivers and the whole team.

The driver's personal zone : This room is designed for the drivers personal comfort. There you will find a physio bench for massages, the suits hanging beofre the Race, some personal effects etc... This room is also equiped with Air purifiers, Go LITE blu system and Micro system wireless Music player as well as Philips Infracare HP3641 ( infrared light to soothe aching muscles)

Team Office : There you will find PC's and workstation for those who need to keep in touch with familly or just browsing the net !

The tour was conducted by Patrick Overwijk, Global Sponsorship Manager for Philips Consumer Lifestyle.

Right after that we were invited to a very restricted area : The Team Garage....

Holding on Nakajima's actual race seat

Here we were explained the various part of the garage , like the Gearbox departement, the engine room, the computer analysis contol room, and the main garage where the team assemble and disassemble the car during the race week-end.

The Philips GolLITE BLU is also used in the garage to keep the drivers and engineers acclimatised to the Singapore Time Zone.

And now a short video from Mr Brown :

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2009/10/mrbrown-goes-to-the-grand-prix-episode-9-nico-rosberg-and-att-williams-f1.html

That rounded up a very interesting Friday afternoon . Our thanks goes to Pamela Phua
(Account manager for "Text 100 Public Relations") for arranging this tour on Behalf of Philips Singapore.

S'pore retailers and restaurants hoping to cash in on F1 excitement

The excitement over the Singapore Formula One night race is increasing, with the race less than a week away. Numerous retailers and restaurants are cashing in with attractive offers.

With products from a variety of teams is the F1 Merchandise Shop at the Shangri-La Hotel, where some products are proving more popular than others. "We have a resident customer who is very enthusiastic. And she probably bought half the merchandise that is in this shop. She bought everything in every size," said Shatz Gillet, Public Relations Marketing Officer,
1st-Formula 1.

The Screening Room, an entertainment venue in Singapore, will be holding week-long screenings of Formula 1 Season Review 2008. It will be hosting driving simulation competitions and serving several F1-themed drinks as well. Over at the Fairmont Hotel, F1 fans can opt for an ultimate dining experience for four with a 61-course meal that reflects the 61 laps of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix circuit. The meal which will include a wide selection of seafood, meats and vegetables is priced at S$5,000. With so much action on and off the race track, the Singapore Tourism Board is confident that it will achieve its target of S$100 million in tourism receipts from the upcoming night race.

By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia

Jet sellers, party hosts try to rev up Singapore F1

The race for tickets and views for Singapore's Formula One grand prix has slowed this year after the country's worst recession, but restaurants along the street circuit are still putting the champagne on ice.
Investment banks in the Asian financial center have scaled back parties for clients for the September 25-27 race after seeing earnings battered by the financial crisis.
Tickets for practice runs and the race have yet to sell out, with the buzz from the sport's first ever night street race in Singapore in 2008 not evident this time, though the event is attracting attention from a scandal over last year's result.
Singapore officials are confident the allegations will not hurt the event, and marketers hope rich fans will still show up.
The Annix Group is organizing an exhibition that will showcase goods including 70 watches worth over S$15 million ($11 million), as it targets 35,000 high net-worth individuals expected to attend, the event's marketing director Prita Leenheer told Reuters.
The F1 will see the launch of a invitation-only club called "O" -- half of whom will be Lamborghini owners and others will be picked from among models, designers, movie stars and royalty.

MillionaireAsia magazine's private aviation show will be returning to Singapore, after $150 million worth of aircraft orders and sales generated by last year's show during the F1.
"As we prepare to exit the economic crisis, we hope that the show will help increase jet sales by at least 10 percent," the magazine's managing editor Brian Yim said.
But banks such as the Royal Bank of Scotland, which sponsors the Williams F1 team and has been part-nationalized by the British government, will be significantly cutting its hospitality this year, said its country executive Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Restaurants in the center of town near the floodlit course, which weaves through the business district and historic landmarks, are ramping up efforts to revive last year's race fever, with F1 themed cocktails, champagne buffets and parties.

Gourmet restaurant Le Saint Julien, located at a bend on the circuit, is again offering a package including free flow of champagne -- but at prices half last year's.

Hotel Ritz Carlton will play host to party The Podium Lounge, auctioning a Fernando Alonso autographed replica F1 vehicle.
Last year's Grand Prix in Singapore, won by Renault's Fernando Alonso after a pitstop blunder finished the chances of rival Ferrari's Felipe Massa, is still a talking point.

Renault handed suspended F1 ban

Renault have been given a two-year suspended ban from Formula 1 for their role in fixing last year's Singapore Grand Prix.
The team were called before governing body the FIA to answer charges they had asked driver Nelson Piquet Jr to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso win.
Former team boss Flavio Briatore has been banned from FIA sanctioned events for an unlimited period.
Ex-engineering director Pat Symonds has also been excluded for five years.
Briatore and Symonds parted company with Renault last week at the same time as the French car giant said they would not contest the charges.
The FIA agreed not to pursue action against Piquet in return for his role in uncovering the details of the scandal.

Alonso, who attended the hearing in Paris, was also cleared of any involvement in the race-fixing scheme and the FIA thanked him for "cooperating with enquiries".
The World Motor Sport Council ruled that Renault was guilty of breaking its sporting code, finding; "breaches relating to the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix to be of unparalleled severity.
"They not only compromised the integrity of the sport but also endangered the lives of spectators, officials, other competitors and Nelson Piquet Jr. himself.
"The WMSC considers that offences of this severity merit permanent disqualification from the FIA Formula One World Championship.

"However, in particular the steps taken by Renault F1 to identify and address the failings within its team and condemn the actions of the individuals involved, the WMSC has decided to suspend Renault F1's disqualification until the end of the 2011 season."
FIA president Max Mosley added: "The blame has been placed where it should be placed and it's the right decision.
"The penalty that we've imposed is the harshest one we can but because Renault have demonstrated that they have no moral responsibility for what took place, it would be wrong in the circumstances to impose an immediate penalty."
The hearing was an attempt to attribute responsibility for the Singapore scandal despite the departure of Briatore and Symonds.
Renault explained that its internal investigation found that Briatore, Symonds and Piquet Jr had conspired to cause the crash with no other team member involved.
After conducting its own investigation, the FIA agreed with Renault's findings and decided to hand the French team a more lenient suspended sentence.
Renault, who will pay the cost of the FIA investigation, as well as contributing to its safety-related projects, said it accepted the council's decision.
Renault's F1 president Bernard Rey
"We are very sad to find ourselves in front of the Word Motor Sport Council," a team statement said.
"We apologise unreservedly to the F1 community in relation to this unacceptable behaviour.
"We sincerely hope that we can soon put this matter behind us and focus constructively on the future. We will issue further information in the next few days."
The FIA imposed further sanctions on Briatore, who ended his nine-year reign as Renault team principal last week in the wake of the scandal.
The Italian has been banned indefinitely from attending any FIA events. A route back into F1 was made more difficult for Briatore as the FIA declared it would not grant a licence to any team he was involved with or renew an F1 Superlicence granted to any driver associated with him.
Renault's double world champion Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber are both managed by Briatore while McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen also has ties with the Italian.
Symonds was banned from all FIA events for five years but the FIA noted his communication to the hearing "that it was to his 'eternal regret and shame' that he had participated in the conspiracy".
The fateful conspiracy was brought to light by Piquet after he was sacked by Renault following July's Hungarian GP.
The 24-year-old Brazilian said after the hearing: "I bitterly regret my actions to follow the orders I was given. I wish every day that I had not done it."
During last year's Singapore night race Piquet crashed on lap 14, two laps after Alonso had stopped for fuel and tyres, and a safety car was deployed to control the field while the debris from the accident was removed from the track.
Having already pitted in the race, the timing of the safety car - necessary while Piquet's wrecked car was removed from the track - was critical to Alonso's victory in Singapore.
It meant that when the safety car came out, he was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres and it promoted him into a position from which he was able to win.
The FIA's ruling on the race-fixing behind the Spaniard's victory has been reached in the same week that Formula 1 returns to Singapore for this season's race.

Briatore has been banned from any involvement in F1
While the majority of the Renault team flew out to Singapore over the weekend, the long-term future of the French team remains in doubt.
The team's main sponsor, Dutch bank ING, had already decided to withdraw its support at the end of the season while Renault itself reported losses as a result of falling car sales in the first half of the year.
Two major car manufacturers have pulled out of F1 in the last nine months, with Honda quitting last December and BMW announcing in July they would stop at the end of the year.
There have long been rumours that both Renault and Toyota, who have said it will not sign off its 2010 F1 budget until November, could follow them out of the sport.
If Renault and Toyota pulled out, the only two car companies left in F1 would be Mercedes and Fiat through its Ferrari brand.
As the car companies supply engines to the entire grid this year, that could be a major problem, notwithstanding the return of privateer engine company Cosworth next season as supplier to the new teams Lotus, US F1, Campos and Manor.
"Formula 1 can't afford another major manufacturer with such a proud history to walk away," said the BBC's James Munro in Paris.
"So some may accuse the FIA of that having influenced their decision."

88% of F1 tickets for Singapore Grand Prix already sold

The Singapore Formula One race is slightly more than a week away and while it was a sold-out inaugural race last year attracting some 100,000 spectators, that will not be repeated this year.

Organisers are only offering 83,000 seats this year, and as of today, 88 per cent of tickets have been sold.

With the poor economy, race organisers were already expecting slower ticket sales this year. Despite that, they managed to ramp up sales, which are picking up as the race approaches. Five categories, including the walkabout tickets, have been sold out.

Last year, the very last ticket was sold on race day on Saturday and organisers are hoping the same this year.

Tourism is another area affected by the economic downturn, but the authorities are cautiously optimistic.

Lynette Pang, director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are keeping our target the same as last year, in terms of tourism receipts, which is really the important key performance indicator for us - as Singapore Tourism Board.

"We are looking at S$100 million in tourism receipts which is the same as last year. Likewise in terms of visitor attendance, we are keeping it the same as last year at 40 per cent of the total attendance of the three-day race."

Actually, tourism receipts hit S$168 million in 2008 and an estimated 40,000 spectators were foreigners.

In absolute terms, the latest targets will still be a challenge due to the slower response. However, the tourism board hopes to draw more foreign fans using targeted marketing and hitting different demographics.

The situation is not common to Singapore, as many races around the world see a decline in interest after the second year onwards.

Similarly, it will be a challenge for Singapore to drive fans to support the Singapore GP, at least for the next three years, when the current five-year deal ends in 2012.

Briatore & Symonds out of Renault F1 Team

Flavio Briatore has left his position as boss of the Renault team after they decided not to contest charges of fixing the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Executive director of engineering Pat Symonds has also left the team.

Renault were summoned by governing body, the FIA, after Nelson Piquet Jr claimed he had been asked to crash to help team-mate Fernando Alonso's race.

An FIA spokesperson confirmed a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Paris on Monday would go ahead.

Renault have been called to answer charges that they "conspired with Nelson Piquet Jr to cause a deliberate crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with the aim of causing the deployment of the safety car to the advantage of its other driver, Fernando Alonso".

The hearing will attempt to attribute responsibility for the Singapore "crash-gate" despite the news that Briatore and Symonds have left Renault.

The FIA could still impose sanctions if Renault are found guilty, including excluding the team from the championship, although that must be considered unlikely given the two people Piquet said were responsible have now left the team.

Piquet crashed in Singapore two laps after Alonso had come in for a routine pit stop.

That meant that when race officials sent out the safety car to clear up the debris from Piquet's car, Alonso was alone among the front-runners in not having to stop for fuel and tyres.

Renault's double world champion went on to take the chequered flag at Formula 1's inaugural night race and claim his first victory in two years.

At the time, Piquet attributed the crash to a simple error, but after being dropped by the team after July's Hungary GP the race-fixing allegations emerged.

The Brazilian has since testified to the FIA that he was instructed by Briatore and Symonds when and where to crash.

Renault's response was to accuse the 24-year-old and his father Nelson Piquet of false allegations and blackmail, going as far as saying they would begin legal action against them.

But on Wednesday the team said in a statement they would "not dispute the recent allegations made by the FIA concerning the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix."

The statement added: "The team also wishes to state that its managing director, Flavio Briatore and its executive director of engineering, Pat Symonds, have left the team."

BBC pundit and former team boss Eddie Jordan said he was surprised by Renault's announcement but believes it was effectively an admission of guilt.

"By suggesting they are not going to contest the allegations is in itself an admission," Jordan told the BBC.

"I don't know what goes on in teams and certainly in the Jordan team you would contemplate all sorts of things but you certainly couldn't contemplate that."

It remains to be seen whether this latest controversy, and the departure of Briatore and Symonds, will affect Renault's decision to stay in Formula 1.

Briatore had denied speculation that the French team's future was under threat and the team have signed a new Concorde Agreement to stay in F1 until 2012.

But this latest controversy, coupled with a decline in cars sales, could yet have repercussions for the staff of around 700, who are are employed at the team's headquarters in Enstone, in Oxfordshire, and Viry-Chatillon in Paris.

Former grand prix winner John Watson told the BBC: "The fact that Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds have left the team was the only solution to Renault.

"A company on the scale of Renault, a world-scale motor company could not afford to have a scandal of this magnitude rattling around in the boardroom."

As it is, Renault's statement draws the curtain on two of F1's best-known protagonists.

Briatore became Benetton team principal in 1991 and when Renault bought Benetton in 2000 to run under its own moniker, the 59-year-old Italian was chosen to lead the team.

Symonds joined the Toleman team, which morphed into Benetton and Renault, in the 1980s and worked his way though the ranks becoming executive director of engineering in 2001.

Briatore was also heavily involved in the teams' association Fota, as it sought to reach an agreement on the future of the sport with the FIA this season.

Renault may quit Formula One over new cheating claim

Nelson Piquet Jr has been accused of crashing his car in the 2008 Singapore race to help team-mate Fernando Alonso.

The FIA examination of last year's Singapore grand prix could lead to Renault quitting Formula One if their team is found guilty of interfering with the result of the floodlit race's inaugural running.

Although not mentioning Renault by name, the sport's governing body is likely to take a closer look at the race following the acquisition of fresh evidence. During the broadcast of Sunday's Belgian grand prix, the Brazilian network Globo TV reportedly said it had received information that Nelson Piquet Jr had been asked to crash on purpose and trigger the sequence of events that led to his team‑mate, Fernando Alonso, moving from the back to the front of the field and scoring a win that went against form in the previous 14 races. A spokeswoman for the ING Renault F1 Team said today that there would be no comment.
Renault have been at the forefront of rumours that they would be the next to pull out of F1 following the withdrawal of Honda and BMW. The French manufacturer was considering quitting last year but Alonso's win in Singapore, and victory at the next race in Japan, secured the team's short-term future. Renault's best finish this year has been fifth place in Spain, an unsatisfactory result that could accelerate the decision to pull out should an inquiry find against the British-based team. If the FIA feels there is a case to answer, Renault could be called before the World Motor Sport Council and, if found guilty, face a heavy fine or even expulsion.

When Piquet crashed on the 14th of 61 laps and sprayed debris across the track, the incident prompted the appearance of the safety car and caused every team bar Renault to immediately rethink their pit-stop strategy. A period of slow laps behind the safety car is the ideal time to refuel without losing an excessive amount of time. Renault were the exception because Alonso had refuelled three laps before Piquet's crash and rejoined at the back of the field. As the 18 cars running ahead of the former world champion made their pit stops, Alonso moved to the front.
The question is: was Piquet ordered to crash or was the accident a handy coincidence for a team under pressure to score their first win of 2008? If it was the former, then Piquet was either incompetent or extremely brave. The heavy collision with the concrete wall lining the street circuit destroyed the right-hand side of the Renault and risked injury. Had Piquet wished to prompt the safety car, it would only have required a slightly more dramatic version of the incident employed by Michael Schumacher in 2005 when he parked his Ferrari against the barrier in Monte Carlo and hampered the progress of rivals during the closing minutes of qualifying. Schumacher was demoted to the back of the grid. A spokesmen for Piquet said he would be making no comment.

The investigation comes less than two weeks after an angry Piquet referred to Flavio Briatore as his "executioner" after being sacked by the boss of Renault F1 and replaced by the Frenchman Romain Grosjean. Ferrari were accused of interfering with the result of the 2002 Austrian grand prix when Rubens Barrichello was ordered to move over in the final 100 metres and allow Schumacher to win. Ferrari were not reprimanded but the FIA banned team orders. The Singapore incident, if deliberate, is much more serious due to the risk of debris injuring other drivers and, possibly, spectators.

Shorter F1 road closure period to minimise disruptions

Organisers of this year's Singapore Grand Prix hope a shorter period of road closure will minimise disruptions to traffic and businesses. Roads will be closed for seven days instead of the 12 days last year. Race organisers will also be beefing up public transport services during the road closure period from September 23 to 29. During the race weekend, up to 650 more train trips will be added, which will run until 1.15am. But what is significant this year is that all taxis will be allowed to enter restricted areas, without the need for special F1 decals.

Restricted areas include Temasek Boulevard via Rochor Road, as well as the single-lane road along Raffles Boulevard. But the new allowance does not apply to race hours, when only vehicles with F1 decals will be allowed in. Race hours are from 9pm to 11pm on September 25 and 26, and from 7pm to 10pm on September 27. Organisers hope the new taxi access will attract more people to visit retail and food and beverage outlets affected by the road closures. Justin Chew, director of F1 project, Singapore Tourism Board, said: "We are a lot more efficient this year, and we are a lot better. All the safety considerations have been addressed. So there is no need to avoid the area."

For race ticket holders, free shuttle services will take them to the race venue from Lavander, Kallang, Outram Park and Clarke Quay MRT stations. Those who will be heading to the affected area are also advised to plan their journey in advance to avoid unnecessary confusion over the road closures. The public can pick up an information leaflet on the road closures at petrol stations, shopping centres and hotels.

Despite the new measures to ease traffic congestion, some feel that more can be done. Michael Ma, CEO, IndoChine Group, said: "I feel that a lot of the roads do not even need to be closed at all, like in Monaco. I keep hearing the same story that Singapore is different from Monaco but to me, the car is the same - the same driver, the same organisation, the same speed. Why do we have to go through such hardship with road closures, and disrupt the whole city’s lifeline? And for seven days, that is ridiculous."

Race organisers stress that public transport is still the best way to travel into the Marina Bay area during the Singapore GP season, and it is also a speedier alternative for fans going to the F1 Rocks concert at Fort Canning Park.

Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce to headline F1 ROCKS™ in Singapore

The inaugural F1 ROCKS™ event will take place at the 2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX later this year, with a star-studded music line-up headlined by global superstars the Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce. ‘F1 ROCKS™ Singapore with LG’ will span three days of the night-time race weekend, from September 24-26.F1 ROCKS™ fuses the world’s most popular annual sporting series with the most iconic music stars to create an unrivalled experience for Formula One and music fans alike. At the core of F1 ROCKS™ is a series of spectacular multi-artist live music events from glamorous Formula One race locations around the world, of which Singapore will be the first.Other artists confirmed for the concerts in Singapore’s Fort Canning Park are ZZ Top, Simple Minds, N*E*R*D and Chinese pop legend Jacky Cheung. Along with the two headliners, they have sold over 245 million records worldwide between them.
The show will also feature guest appearances from top Formula One drivers and celebrities.“I am delighted to be launching F1 ROCKS™ in Singapore and very pleased to have Singapore as our inaugural event and LG Electronics as our title launch sponsor,” said Paul Morrison, CEO & Chief Creative Officer, All The Worlds/ F1 ROCKS™. “The world’s only F1 night race just got bigger, faster and louder. Our talent is world class and F1 ROCKS™ will rock Singapore!”“LG is very excited to be a key partner, with Formula 1™ and Universal Music, to launch the F1 ROCKS™ with LG program in Singapore,” added Dermot Boden, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of LG Electronics, who are already a Global Partner of Formula 1™ and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™.
“LG’s partnership with Formula 1™ delivers the ‘LG - Life’s Good’ experience to millions of people across the world. F1 ROCKS™ with LG will allow us to further broaden global awareness to build a deeper understanding for our style and technology positioning with an even wider audience that embraces music and entertainment as a passion. It is a natural fit for us to become part of such a premium global music event!”F1 ROCKS™ is set to be a global sensation and will be broadcast worldwide across a potential 188 Formula One territories. Two TV programmes will be produced from ‘F1 ROCKS™ Singapore with LG’; the first will be an hour-long entertainment show, giving viewers unrivalled access into the glamorous world of Formula One racing with A-List celebrity interviews, TV stunts, unique performances and aspirational and lifestyle features.
The second will be a high-octane music special showcasing the best live music performances and interviews.

The full line-up for Singapore (other artists to be announced):

Thursday September 24 - Jacky Cheung, Da Mouth and Sodagreen
Friday September 25 - ZZ Top, Simple Minds and N*E*R*D
Saturday September 26 - Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas

Komoco lands Ferrari franchise

HOTELIER Ong Beng Seng's motor company Komoco has clinched the Ferrari franchise, ending months of speculation about who will represent the Prancing Horse in Singapore.
Komoco, which currently sells Hyundai and Chrysler cars, will take over from Hong Seh Motors.

The latter, owned by businessman Alfred Tan and son Edward, has held the Ferrari franchise for 25 years.
The Straits Times understands that Ferrari, of Italy, informed Komoco as well as the other contender Premium Automobiles - which sells Audis - of its decision yesterday afternoon.
Premium Automobiles' chief operating officer Marc Singleton said: "We're very disappointed, of course. But it was worth the attempt."
Neither Komoco nor Ferrari was available for comment.
Up to eight parties were said to have been pursuing the franchise, including Mr Andy Goh, brother of Lamborghini dealer Melvin Goh; Porsche dealer Karsono Kwee; and Mr Arthur Tay, who runs leisure group SUTL.
Mr Tay, however, clarified that he was not keen on acquiring the coveted Italian brand, but might want to have "a small stake" in whoever clinches it.
Some quarters reckon Mr Ong's Formula One ties helped seal the deal for Komoco, as Ferrari is strongly associated with the motorsport which the hotelier helped bring to Singapore last year.
Ferrari owners here welcomed the end of the uncertainty revolving around the dealership matter since The Straits Times broke the news in February that Ferrari was looking for a new local agent.
Dr Ben Neo, president of Ferrari Club's Singapore chapter, said: "It's sad for Hong Seh, but we hope Ferrari's decision will be constructive, and we look forward to the new dealer's support."
The club has around 50 members, out of close to 300 Ferrari owners here.
Ferrari prices range from $700,000 to $1 million, and about 20 to 40 cars are sold here a year.
Worldwide, Ferrari sold about 7,000 cars last year.

The new player is expected to have thinner profit margins than Hong Seh, as Ferrari open-market values - roughly the cost price of the car - have started creeping upwards in recent months.
Komoco has been shopping for premises to house the Maranello marque for several weeks now, notably along the Leng Kee Road motor belt.
Sources said it may also have a showroom in Orchard Road, at the Hilton, part of Mr Ong's Hotel Properties stable.
Komoco is expected to operate the Ferrari business under a new name, and should start up in two to three months' time, possibly kicking off with the launch of the California convertible.
The California will be followed by the popular Ferrari F430's replacement, which is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

UPDATE

It is confirmed - Ital Auto, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Komoco Motors, has been picked as the new importer of Ferrari in Singapore.
The Shanghai-based Ferrari Asia Pacific regional office is said to have sent Ital Auto a letter of offer yesterday afternoon.

Subject to agreement, it will bring to a close a much talked-about race among half a dozen competitors who have been ardently wooing the Italian super sports car brand for more than six months.
Ital Auto was set up earlier this year by hotelier Ong Beng Seng and his good friend and long-time business partner, Metro Holdings group managing director Jopie Ong, to bid for the Ferrari dealership.
After beating a field of high-end car distributors and wealthy businessmen, it appears certain that Messrs Ong and Ong will accept the offer to represent the exclusive Italian marque.
If they do so, Ital Auto is expected to appoint Komoco Motors managing director Teo Hock Seng as the dealer principal.
In turn, Mr Teo will likely have to hire a general manager to look after the day-to-day operations.
When that happens, the prancing horse will join an existing stable of automotive marques - Harley Davidson, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Hyundai.
The Ferrari showroom is expected to be housed at the spacious Komoco Motors building on 253 Alexandra Road.
It is understood that the entire facade facing Leng Kee Road will be devoted to Ferrari.
Currently, this section of the building is occupied by the Chrysler and Harley Davidson showrooms.
Most of this space will be taken over for the Ferrari showroom, while the rest is understood to be set aside for the marque's workshop operations.
However, all this is likely be a temporary measure, with the ultimate aim said to be to eventually house the exclusive marque in a more impressive stand-alone facility.
So far, it is understood that the location for this has yet to be identified.

But three years ago, the Italian exotic carmaker undertook a review of its dealer network across the region in an effort to maximise the full potential of the brand.
For Singapore, it invited interested parties to bid for the franchise.
The successful applicant is expected to invest in a new and more visible showroom in the traditional Leng Kee motor belt or the Orchard Road area, as well as beef up after-sales service and customer care programmes.
Last year, only 45 units of Ferrari sports cars were delivered in Singapore, out of the manufacturer's tiny global total of 6,587 units.
But as the Ferrari badge is arguably one of the most desirable in the world, it was no surprise that an unusually large number of parties was vying for the dealership despite the very low volume involved.
They included Hadi Tanaga, the owner of Audi dealer Premium Automobiles, and Karsono Kwee, who represents Porsche and Rolls-Royce, among other brands.
Mr Ong and Mr Tanaga were the two candidates shortlisted by Ferrari a week ago, while Mr Kwee had to bow out of the race much earlier after pressure from Porsche

Singapore Hotels dangle F1 'best rates'

HOTELIERS here are dangling yet another carrot this year to get people to book their rooms early for the second run of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race, which is taking place from Sept 25 to 29.
Race organiser Singapore GP has got 29 non-trackside hotels to agree to offer a "Best Rate Guarantee" for the early birds who book in advance. This scheme ensures that the early bird customers do not lose out should hotel room prices fall further closer to the race day.
Last year, during the first run of the race, hoteliers initially priced their rooms very high, leading to poor demand for the rooms. As the rooms remained empty in the weeks leading up to the race, hotels started massive discounting in a last-minute attempt to attract more customers. That led to a situation where those who booked early ended up having to pay higher prices than those who came last minute.
To prevent the same situation from happening again this year and to get people to book now instead of waiting for better deals to materialise, the hotels have come up with such a plan.
Singapore GP said in a statement on Tuesday that the Best Rate Guarantee initiative was a "result of feedback from corporate and general ticket-holders" who were unhappy at being penalised for having to pay a high rate for booking early.
Its chairman Teo Hock Seng called the scheme a "win-win solution" for participating hotels and customers and expects more hotels to join in the coming weeks.
He said: "Hotels will be able to manage their inventory better with early confirmations, while visitors who want to come here to watch the race will also have a greater degree of confidence, instead of having to wait and see whether there will be any last minute price deals."
Hotels across the board are having a difficult time this year with dwindling tourist arrivals as a result of the global economic recession and the global outbreak of H1N1. And the bookings for F1 race dates are trickling in rather slowly despite early bird offers which offer massive discounts on last year's prices.

For more information on the list of participating hotels, go to www.singaporegp.sg or www.visitsingapore.com/sgpseason/hotel_rates.html

A Formula lost

Could the Singapore Grand Prix be collateral damage?

Ian De Cotta

Jun 20, 2009

"SHOCKWAVES from the pull-out of eight marquee teams from next season’s Formula 1 are being felt by fans and race organisers across the world, and Singapore is no exception.In the sport’s biggest upheaval in 60 years, the eight teams including the likes of Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes have begun preparing for a rival series, after failing to resolve their dispute with motor sport’s governing body.While this should not affect the rest of the season or Singapore’s second F1 race this September, it would mean that from next year, much of the race’s glamour would be gone - along with legendary personalities such as Ross Brawn, and champions Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen.

The Republic is contracted to host the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix until 2012, and has invested more than $100 million in fees and infrastructure in the first year alone. The annual returns for the economy is estimated to be just as much.How the teams’ departure will affect the numbers or whether courting the new series could be an option for Singapore, no one knows yet - and Singapore GP chairman Teo Hock Seng would prefer, for now, to focus on hosting this year’s night race at the Marina Bay Circuit.

“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the ongoing discussions between the Formula 1 Teams Association (Fota), Formula One Management and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile). The exact contractual terms under which the Singapore Grand Prix is staged are confidential,” said Mr Teo. “But we will continue to closely monitor the ongoing developments regarding the 2010 season.

”Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, speaking on the sidelines of the annual Singapore Sports Awards Night on Friday, said: “This is something the teams and the F1 management will have to sort out. We hope they will be able to come to some agreement for the good of motorsport as a whole.

The teams’ split from F1 came after talks with the FIA over budget caps and new regulations for next year broke down, on the eve of the British Grand Prix this weekend.The eight outfits, grouped under the Fota umbrella, are Ferrari - a feature in every season since the start of F1 in 1950 - McLaren-Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and championship leaders Brawn GP.In starting a rival series, they would deprive the F1 of US$2.2 billion ($3.2 billion), which industry research monitor Formula Money estimates is their total yearly investment in the sport.

The bone of contention is a voluntary budget cap of US$40 million on technical developments the FIA is introducing for the 2010 season, to put the brakes on costs. The teams’ breakaway has escalated calls for FIA president Max Mosley to step down, with former world champion Jackie Stewart saying: “A lot of people are kind of fed up with his dictatorial attitude.”

Will race turnout crash?Fans in Singapore were shocked. Property investor Denis Chang, who splurged close to $2,000 tickets for this year’s race, said it would not be the same without Ferrari and McLaren. “They have a big pull and I can’t imagine going to an F1 race without seeing them on the track,” he said.

But Bruno Gillet ( That's me !! ) , who travels to races in Australia and Malaysia, isn’t giving up on F1 yet. “I don’t know if the teams can set up their own series. It will be difficult. F1 is still the world championship, so I won’t give it a miss,” he said.

Malaysian organisers are worried the split will add to the impact of the woeful economic climate on turnout.“My paymaster, the Malaysian government, is concerned how it will affect the Grand Prix in Sepang,” said Sepang International Circuit chairman Mokhzani Mahathir. “We have a contract with Bernie to hold the FIA F1 race until 2015 and it says he will deliver. “What will turn up on the grid next year, we don’t know, but without the big names, it will definitely affect crowd attendance.”

But Drew Ward, chief executive of Australian Grand Prix Corporation, is not too worried that a Ferrari-less series will upset plans to stage the season opener in Melbourne early next year. They will work with F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to make it a success.“This is not the first time a new championship has been proposed and it is not unusual for threats like this to be made by the teams in F1,” said Mr Ward. Mr Ecclestone has so far refrained from commenting, and could still play a role in bringing the teams back into the fold, thinks journalist Fredrik Petersens, who has attended every race since the mid-1970s.“It happened in 2000 when the same teams threatened to start a new series and then Bernie brought Ferrari to heel, and the rest followed. “Right now, it is all words and posturing, so we haven’t seen what Bernie might do.”";

Singapore track Tweaked for Performance

JENSON Button could be crowned world champion before the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 25-27, but race organisers are confident it won’t lessen interest in the Formula 1 night race here.
Brawn GP’s Button has won all but one of the season’s seven races so far and is on course to wrapping up the drivers’ championship before the Singapore race, the 14th of the 2009 Formula 1 season.“It is less about the championship situation and more about the overall experience ticket holders can expect both on and off the track,” said Singapore GP media and communications director Jonathan Hallett, at a briefing on the progress of modifications to the street track yesterday.“And with over 200 performers already confirmed and more to come, you will never be far from world-class entertainment both on and off the track.
”Last week, Singapore GP rolled out their first list of entertainers, which includes the Backstreet Boys and Chaka Khan. And more big name acts and DJs are set to be unveiled next month.“We’ve always been committed to making the Singapore Grand Prix more than just about the racing,” said Hallett.
“This year, it’ll be a more breathtaking combination of sights, sounds and sensational action.”On the track, the entrance to the pit lane and the exit near Sheares corner (Turn 1) have both been moved further away from the start-finish straight.
“The alterations to the circuit also made it necessary to alter the Sheares corner,” said Singapore GP’s manager of circuit infrastructure, Lawrence Foo. “It will now be easier for drivers to overtake there.“The bumpy stretch along Raffles Boulevard will also be resurfaced to make it easier for drivers to execute passing manoeuvres when they reach Turn 7.
”The apex at Turn 13 before Esplanade Drive will also be made “gentler” for drivers to pick up speed into the next corner, which will be tweaked to allow for more overtaking there.

Backstreet Boys & Chaka Khan to perform at Sinagpore F1 Race Party

Backstreet’s back for F1

"IT DID not take much to convince top-selling American boy-band group Backstreet Boys to perform again in Singapore.When they heard that their gig would be held at the Padang during the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix night race, they gave a resounding yes.The best-selling boy band - with record sales of over 100 million records - and multi-Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan were two of the entertainment acts that race organisers revealed yesterday as part of the entertainment package for the event from Sept 25 to Sept 27.

“Both the Backstreet Boys and Chaka Khan normally perform at concerts ... they see a sexy element to the night race and reckon they will have a blast,” said Singapore GP director of operations Sarah Martin. The third big name will be released next month but the group will appeal to all age groups, said Ms Martin. Among other events to be announced then will be two of the world’s top 10 DJs.

“I can honestly say we have revolutionised the way people view entertainment at any Grand Prix,” said Ms Martin. “Without a doubt, we will be giving the best experience that any Grand Prix has seen.”

Although all ticket holders will be able to watch Backstreet Boys on both weekend nights at Zone 4, only spectators at the grandstands facing the paddock at Zone 1 will have the privilege to watch Chaka Khan after the main race on Sunday.Tickets there are priced at $1,388 each.“We felt that ticket holders who are paying a lot more ... deserve some exclusivity and this is the best way to give it to them,” said Ms Martin.Other top performers include Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour - listed in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People - and Rock \& Roll Hall of Fame’s Mavis Staples.

To cater to the large number of foreign visitors, two key theatre acts will be staged along the lines of the world famous Cirque du Soleil.“About 40 per cent of the fans at the race will come from overseas and we want to bridge the language barriers,” said Ms Martin.The acts will be at the Padang and the floating platform. One of them has worked in partnership with Cirque du Soleil and is planning something special for the Grand Prix, she said."

Singapore Hotels see lukewarm F1 bookings

In difficult times, late birds can still get the worm.
With companies playing hard to get, Singapore hotels appear to be prolonging their 'early bird' rates for F1 bookings.
Some are extending their special rates to as far as July - just two months before the big weekend (Sept 25-27) for the 2009 Formula One race.
Given the lacklustre demand, the Royal Plaza on Scotts has extended its early bird price of $380++ per night for a deluxe room, which was to expire at end March. Efforts to reach out to some of last year's clients were met with either refusals or a wait-and-see attitude.
As its general manager Patrick Fiat put it, companies 'don't want to be seen retrenching staff, then going to the Grand Prix'.

Royal Plaza's occupancy for the F1 weekend currently stands at 30 per cent, and deluxe room rates will be raised to $460++ only around the end of next month, at the earliest.

Over at the Grand Hyatt, the hotel has set aside a number of rooms at a special price of $550++ - versus $1,000++ last year - for those that make their bookings early.
'Customers are expecting lower rates due to the sharp fall in arrivals amid the world economic slowdown,' said PR manager Patricia Yong.
And if the weaker economy isn't enough, this year's race will lack the distinct shine that comes with an inaugural event. Singapore also has competition from Abu Dhabi, the latest destination to make its debut on the starting grid.

'Last year was the first night race. The buzz was incredible,' acknowledged Mr Fiat. Still, with hotels reducing their prices, this could be an advantage that works in our favour, he added.
Last year, reservations picked up pace in the two months leading up to the race, which could very well be the case again this year. But for now, hoteliers are giving F1 fans every incentive to lock in their bookings ahead of time. A minimum number of nights stay, however, still applies in most cases.
The Four Seasons, which is charging from $670++ for its superior and deluxe rooms, will implement an early bird discount of 15 per cent off the quoted rates if payment is made by July 31.
The Meritus Mandarin has also introduced an early bird offer to encourage customers to book earlier. For reservations that are confirmed by July 31, the hotel is offering rates that range from $380++ to $700++, some $150 lower than last year.
'We have received more enquiries than bookings so far and noticed that customers are shopping around for the best deals,' said Meritus Mandarin's assistant VP of marketing communications Lim Ee Jin.
'Booking pace is much slower than last year,' agreed Ms Yong. However, the early booking deal is netting Hyatt some repeat customers.

Meanwhile, the Rendezvous Hotel has an offer until June which sees rooms starting from $350++.
'This year, the take-up rate is slower. However, we expect last minute bookings nearer to the date,' said general manager Kellvin Ong.
Even a few trackside hotels have coughed up some competitive pricing.
One source was recently quoted $1,000++ per night for a room with a non-circuit view at the trackside Fullerton Hotel, about half of what the hotel was reportedly charging last year.

The trackside Marina Mandarin had an early bird rate of $600++ going till end March for its deluxe rooms, which have since been taken up. The next level of inventory, its executive deluxe rooms, are priced at $900++, still a far cry from last year's price tag of $1,650++.

Boutique hotel Naumi, which has been roped in this year as a trackside hotel, is keeping its rates at a starting point of $1,200++, although an early bird rate of $900++ applies till the end of next month.
Last year, the hotel was full, with one corporate client snapping up 80 per cent of its 40-room capacity, but it's proving a little trickier this year with occupancy currently standing at 10 per cent.
Bucking the trend, however, is non-trackside Novotel Clarke Quay. According to general manager Heinz Colby, the hotel has already filled 80 per cent of its rooms after rates were cut by 10 per cent this year to start at $600++.
Whatever the end result, it is clear that most hotels have adopted a more pragmatic approach this year and with good reason.
'A lot of wisdom has come with the first F1,' one industry source said. 'We have learnt our lesson.'

By Nisha Ramchandani

Winning names for Singapore GP turns Announced

The winning names for the Marina Bay Circuit: Sheares, Memorial and Singapore Sling

THE names “Sheares”, “Memorial” and “Singapore Sling” will be on the tip of Formula 1 fans’ tongues here and around the world come September, at the second Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

Turn 1 of the Marina Bay street circuit after the start-finish straight has been named Sheares, after the Benjamin Sheares Bridge which runs over it.
Turn 7, the scene of many a thrilling overtaking manoeuvre near the War Memorial, will now be known as Memorial. And the tricky chicane that is the 10th corner has been christened Singapore Sling.

The response to the It’s Your Turn at the Singapore Grand Prix contest, a joint effort by race organisers Singapore GP and Today, was overwhelming. Readers and Formula 1 fans from around the globe were invited to submit their suggested names, and we saw entries coming in from as far away as Spain, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada.

Only those who adhered to the rules and conditions made the final round of judging, with contestants’ reasons for the names they suggested taken into account. The panel of six judges met yesterday to pick the three best names to christen Turns 1, 7 and 10 and had to sift through a pool of 1,440 entries.

After a blind vote, the three winners came from Singapore. The top prize of two grandstand tickets, a pitlane walk and a two-night stay at a trackside hotel during the Formula 1 2009 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 25 to 27 went to wedding card designer Arthur Lim.

Showcasing Singapore

Lim’s suggestion for Turn 1, a nod to Singapore’s second President Benjamin Sheares, the bridge named after him, and the fact that the name hints of “speed and smoothness”, won the judges over.

Memorial, suggested by Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Chan Kwan Yew, proved a winning entry because of its simplicity, ease of pronunciation and its ties to the past. “It is a significant site, honouring the victims of the Second World War,” Chan noted of the corner near the War Memorial.

The most talked about and challenging corner of the Marina Bay circuit last September was Turn 10. Fittingly, the judges spent the most time deliberating that turn.

Most entries zeroed in on the fact that the old Parliament House and the former Supreme Court overlook the tricky chicane, with Judgment Day, Justice Trap, Supremo and the Court among the better suggestions. But the judges considered the difficulty of negotiating the first of three twists and decided on Singapore Sling, submitted by Foo Say Boon.

Simon Rock, managing director of Performance Motors and one of the judges, said the first two turns were Singapore-centric and offered an opportunity to tell the world something about the country.

“Singapore Sling, on the other hand, is known internationally and fans everywhere can relate to it instantly,” explained the Briton.

“It says more about the turn. Drivers have to be careful here, but it can serve as a slingshot if they tackle it well.”

Rock’s fellow judge Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, said he was impressed by the quality and creativity of the entries. He said: “Throughout the intensely engaging judging process, the panel deliberated for over three hours to arrive at an acceptable shortlist.

“Getting to the eventual winners was a tough task, but in the end, the panel was in accord on the final winners.”

The other judges on the panel were Today Sports Editor Leonard Thomas, Singapore Motor Sports Association president Tan Teng Lip, STPB F1 project director Leong Yue Kheong and former racer Lee Chiu San.

How will it sound on TV?

When contacted yesterday, Lim could not contain his excitement when he learnt he had won the top prize. He told Today he had rehearsed in front of his wife several times before submitting his entry for Turn 1.

“I wanted to make sure it would come off nicely from the tongue of a TV commentator and that it will be easy on the ear,” said the 37-year-old father of two.
“Sheares is also an historic name because it is the name of our second President, but it can easily be used to describe cars cutting through the turns.”

Chan and Foo, the other two winners, each won a pair of grandstand tickets and a pitlane walk for the Singapore Grand Prix. All winners will be contacted by Singapore GP on how to collect their prizes.

====And the winners are:

====Turn 1: Sheares — Arthur Lim

====Turn 7: Memorial — Chan Kwan Yew

====Turn 10: Singapore Sling — Foo Say Boon

Ian De Cotta ian@mediacorp.com.sg

Singapore F1 track scoops award

The Singapore Marina Bay street circuit has come into the limelight again after winning international praise with its inaugural night race on Sept 28.

The street circuit has won the title of world-wide Motor Sport Facility of the Year at the Professional Motor Sport World annual awards ceremony, held in Cologne, Germany on Nov 11.
The Singapore Grand Prix venue was commended both for the revolutionary track lighting and the spectacular way in which it wove the track through the heart of the city.

The Singapore Grand Prix venue went up against other candidates such as the European Grand Prix venue at Valencia in Spain, the new Toyota Racing Development chassis engineering building in Cologne and a new start-of-the-art motor racing facility at Sturup, near Malmo in Sweden.

Jonathan Hallett, Director of Media and Communications for Singapore GP, praised the entire team involved in the event.
'We are delighted that the efforts of the entire team, the invaluable contribution from all our fantastic partners, and the strong collaborative efforts from the government agencies and businesses, particularly those around the circuit, have been recognised by this award,' he said.
The Professional Motor Sport World Awards, which are in their third year of recognising international motor sports endeavours, were selected by a distinguished judging panel from all areas of the sport.

Other awards given out at the gala Award show in Cologne included Safety Innovation of the Year (awarded to the FIA Foundation for their work in improving safety in the World Rally Championship), and Team Principal of the Year (awarded to Franz Tost of Scuderia Toro Rosso).

Red Bull Formula Unas

The world’s first night race on September 28 witnessed many firsts for Singapore, including hosting its very first F1 programme tailored exclusively for ladies – the Red Bull La Formula Una Program.
This annual event that is held exclusively by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso – the two Red Bull-owned teams, which are the only Formula One teams with a dedicated program for the females. The programme offers a once-a-lifetime opportunity to rub shoulders with the who’s who in the world of Formula One, and to experience the sport in ways that will make the men green with envy.
VIP treatment is guaranteed both on and off track as the ladies, who will be handpicked by a panel of mystery judges, can expect four days of non-stop heady action, access to exclusive parties and glamorous fun. In addition, the agenda includes exclusive access to the F1 Paddock, pit garage tours, photo shoots, media interviews and possibly even the chance to dine with the RBR and STR drivers.

SINGAPORE FORMULA UNAS LADIES

MALAYSIA FORMULA UNAS LADIES

JAPAN FORMULA UNAS LADIES

ABU DHABI TIPPED TO SHAKE UP F1

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been lauded as an event that will herald a new era in world motor racing.
That bold remark came courtesy of His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, who is clearly not a man prone to understatement.
The founding chairman of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management launched the vision of his organisation and country ahead of next year's season-ending debut on the Formula One calendar.
ADMM are not just in the process of building another new circuit, but an entire infrastructure on one of the many islands that make up the Middle East state.
Yas Island is being turned into a statement of intent for the United Arab Emirates as a whole, with the 3.4-mile, 21-turn anti-clockwise track at its heart.
The Yas Marina Circuit can be split into two smaller tracks of 1.9 and 1.46 miles, whilst other racing facilities include a 0.75-mile world championship-standard karting centre and a dragstrip.
For the first time anywhere in the world, the 50,000-seater grandstands will be entirely covered.
And because of the environmentally-conscious drive in Formula One these days, many of the facilities will be solar-powered.
Away from the track there will be hotels, theme parks - including one specifically dedicated to Ferrari - a shopping mall, the marina itself and a yacht club.
The piece de resistance, however, is the 500-room hotel that will straddle the track, affording those lucky enough to stay there an unparalleled view of the race.
Al Mubarak is convinced the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will eclipse those currently on the calendar, including Monaco, and most recently the spectacular event in Singapore.

The Singapore Grand Prix was incredible. They did an absolutely fantastic job, and the first night race was something special," said Al Mubarak.
"The track, the visual impact of the city, the organisation, for everybody that was there it was fantastic, and we look at it as a challenge.
They have done what we are looking forward to doing next year - setting a new benchmark - and we will do that. There is no question in my mind that this is a track that will set that benchmark in motor-sport racing. It will be the future of motor racing, and we will be the cutting edge in everything we do in the sport.
Like everything that Abu Dhabi does, we are going to do it right, it is going to be unique, it will set a new standard, and it will be long-term. That is what we are doing with the 2009 grand prix, and with the relationship we will have with Formula One.
It is the start of what I feel will be a new era in racing, not just for the region, but for the world."
Despite the many millions of pounds being lavished on the facility - which has in place an initial seven-year race contract with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone - Al Mubarak insists it will be money well spent.

The entire island makes sense and is an integrated development," added Al Mubarak.
You don't invest what we are nvesting in this island without being cost conscious and efficient.
But I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this event for the country and the UAE.
This is the epitome of sports, and being part of it, launching it next year for the country and putting Abu Dhabi out there for the global audience, is absolutely tremendous.
It is like having the World Cup or the Olympics every year. It takes a lot of preparation, hard work, but we are going to be ready.
We are going to deliver to the world a statement in terms of how we can organise world-class events, delivering a standard that will make the world happy to come, to watch and enjoy.

There has been talk of the race being staged at night, and it would be unsurprising given the hotel at the centre has an exterior outer layer made up of 4,800 LED panels allowing it to change colour.

Al Mubarak refused to drawn on a race start time, but he is adamant the track design - which has received input from current and former drivers - will serve up a thrilling spectacle of a race.
It has made a difference that we are building the track from scratch which has alowed a lot more creativity and flexibility in terms of how we designed it," said Al Mubarak.
I expect it to be a very fast track, a very competitive track with significantly more opportunities for overtaking than many of the tracks we have today."