Singapore gears up for Formula 1 Grand Prix

Making its debut 28 September 2008, the countdown to the inaugural race has kicked off; Singapore has now received in principal approval for its impressive street circuit from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and work on the pit building has already begun.

In less than one year, racing enthusiasts can look forward to experiencing a breathtaking street circuit in the heart of downtown Singapore, which will take the world's top drivers past Singapore's skyline, and across iconic city landmarks and boulevards at thrilling speeds.

The world-class affair is already set to be one of the most dramatic and atmospheric events on the international racing calendar, with plans in place to be the first race in the history of the championship to be held at night - creating an unforgettable F1 experience.

With an increasing number of Middle East travellers heading to Singapore for recreational and leisure activities, in addition to the island-nation's convenient geographical proximity, tourism officials see major opportunities to attract regional racing fans to this major sporting event.

Sophisticated Middle East travellers, particularly from the GCC, have had a longstanding fascination with motor racing, with the recent introduction of F1 in Bahrain and upcoming track in Abu Dhabi reinforcing the region's growing interest in the spectator sport.
To prepare for this marked increase of Middle East visitors during Formula 1, Singapore is developing custom hospitality packages for motor enthusiasts who are keen to get an up-close view of the action.

"We are looking forward to welcoming racing enthusiasts from the Middle East to Singapore's inaugural Formula One Grand Prix, which promises to complement our strong tourism offering and propel Singapore into a world-class destination for premier sporting events," said Ke-Wei Peh, Area Director of Singapore Tourism Board, Middle East and Africa.

The 5.067 km street circuit offers a number of overtaking opportunities, challenging corners and strenuous sections that will test the capabilities of the expert F1 drivers, and is one of only three races in the 2008 F1 calendar to run anticlockwise.

An array of special hospitality packages will be on sale from late November 2007, while three-day passes to the event will become available in December 2007. Single-day passes will go on sale just before the Chinese New Year.