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Entries for August 2007
ssc_marcomms posted on August 31, 2007 19:24 
Motor sports such as the FIA
Formula One World Championship have captured the imagination of
millions of racing enthusiasts worldwide. (Photo credit: John Matthew
Alexander, Singapore Tourism Board)
As
we gear up for the third edition of the FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE
GRAND PRIX, the world’s first Formula 1 night race, TPT decides to
enlighten those outside of the racing fraternity by providing a brief
guide to the various prominent motor sports.
Formula 1
The " formula"
in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants' cars
must comply. The Formula 1 season consists of a series of races, each
known as a Grand Prix, held either on purpose-built circuits or public roads.
The results of each race are combined to determine two annual World Championships, one for the drivers and one for the constructors.
With speeds of up to 360 km/h, and engines revving up to a formula
imposed limit of 18,000 rpm, the Formula 1 race cars are capable of
withstanding high gravitational forces when making sharp turns and
corners.
Jensen
Button, a British Formula One driver currently signed to Formula 1 race
team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, is the reigning Formula 1 World
Drivers' Champion. However, he is facing stiff competition from his team
mate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber and Sebastian
Vettel.
MotoGP
MotoGP is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing
currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 (600cc)
andMotoGP (800cc).
MotoGP motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are
neither available for purchase by the general public nor can be ridden
legally on public roads. This contrasts with the various production
categories of racing, such as the Superbike World Championship that
feature modified versions of road-going motorcycles available to the
public.
One of the current stars of MotoGP is Valentino Rossi. The Italian,
who is the reigning Riders' Champion, is one of the most successful
motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships
to his name.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR),
headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, is a family-owned and -operated
business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports
events.
NASCAR is the largest sanctioning body of stock car racing in the
United States. The three largest racing series sanctioned by NASCAR are
the Sprint Cup Series, the Nationwide Series, and the Camping World
Truck Series. It also oversees NASCAR Local Racing, the Whelen Modified
Tour, the Whelen All-American Series, and the NASCAR iRacing.com Series.
The "NASCAR Sprint Cup Series" is the sport's highest level of
professional competition. It is consequently the most popular and most
profitable NASCAR series. The 2009 Sprint Cup season
consists of 36 races over 10 months. Writers and fans often use "Cup"
to refer to the Sprint Cup series and the ambiguous use of "NASCAR" as a
synonym for the Sprint Cup Series is common.
One of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history is Jimmie Johnson,
a four-time unprecedented NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who is the
2009 Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series driver of the year, as well as being considered as 2000's "Best
Driver of the Decade".
Karting
Kart racing, also known as Karting, is a variant of open-wheel motor sports
with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or
gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on
scaled-down circuits.
Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher
and more expensive ranks of motorsports such as Formula 1 and NASCAR.
KF1 is the top classification of karting and drivers participating in
the World KF1 Championship and the European KF1 Championship race in
karts going as fast as 140 km/h.
Many former Formula 1 World Championship drivers grew up racing
karts, most prominent among them Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Alain
Prost, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen, Jenson Button and Lewis
Hamilton. Many NASCAR drivers also got their start in racing from karts,
such as Darrell Waltrip, Lake Speed, Ricky Rudd, Juan Pablo Montoya,
Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon.
Drifting
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motor sport where
the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the
rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high
exit speed.
A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle prior to the corner apex, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa), and the driver is controlling these factors.
Drifting has evolved into a competitive sport where drivers compete
mostly in rear wheel drive cars, and occasionally all wheel drive cars,
to earn points from judges based on various factors. At the top levels
of competition, the D1 Grand Prix from Japan has pioneered the sport and
the Formula Drift Championship has been gaining popularity among
drifting fans in the US. Other professional drifting competitions are
also held worldwide.
[Read the rest of this article...]
ssc_marcomms posted on August 30, 2007 23:23 
The
past two editions of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, spectators
were enthralled by the exciting displays of world-class motorsports
action as high-speed drama unfolded before their very eyes. The sights,
sounds and racing experience is simply breathtaking. Race machines
tearing down our streets at break-neck speed overtaking and maneuvering
in the heart of our buzzing metropolis is a sight to behold.
Audiences
from all over the world will also e mesmerised by international
entertainment acts while being treated to unrivalled hospitality
services. The Singapore Grand Prix has always prided itself as being
much more than a motor race, and even more so this year.
The 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX will reach new
heights in fun and entertainment with a slew of exhilarating activities
and race-themed events to complement the world’s only Formula 1 night
race, which will be taking place from 24 to 26 September 2010. Expect a
motorsports extravaganza that will fuel high-octane excitement and
glamour around the Marina Bay circuit.
Organised
by the Singapore Tourism Board as part of its new brand campaign
YourSingapore, the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) will feature a
spectacular concert by a stellar line-up of renowned artists including
Mariah Carey, Missy Elliot, Daughtry and Adam Lambert, who will be
rocking the mega stage set at the Padang.
Visit
the GPSS Soundpark, filled with interactive media and designer
sound-scapes, which offers a larger-than-life music experience with the
biggest DJ console in Singapore, and probably the world. Partake in the
moment of glory when you get the chance to lift the FORMULA 1 SINGTEL
SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX replica trophy by Royal Selangor and fulfill your
need for speed when you get into the DHL race car simulator for the ride
of your life!
What’s more, Crave Singapore!
gathers the best culinary talents and award-winning restaurants for a
12-day gastronomic festival. Be prepared to embark on the most unique
culinary crusade ever!
And, with several
high-profile parties slated to kick off at local signature clubs such as
Zouk, St James Power Station, Butter Factory and Stereolab, F1 fans can
look forward to an exciting nightlife featuring international DJs who
will rev up the party atmosphere.
With so much happening this September, get ready to have a blast as things get loud on and off the track!
[Read the rest of this article...]
ssc_marcomms posted on August 30, 2007 23:18 
Singapore racing ace Ringo Chong posing alongside his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car.
From
a boy who took part in local car park rallies to a top notch race
driver who has achieved numerous podium finishes on both local and
foreign soil, Ringo Chong is flying the Singapore flag up high in the
motorsports scene. TPT managed to catch up with the racing ace to find
out more about his racing experiences, future career plans, and his
views on the upcoming Changi Motorsports Hub.
1) Share with us some of your most memorable experiences as a race car driver.
Winning last year’s Aston Martin Asia
Cup round in Singapore was the happiest moment in my entire racing
career. I lived my entire life on that childhood dream - that one day I
will win in my home race!
2) You were the first local to win
the Aston Martin Asia Cup round at the Marina Bay circuit in Singapore
last year. How do you view your chances of winning the Porsche Carrera
Cup round at the same venue this year?
I will be trying my very best but it's not easy with limited budget for the season and not much practice in the Carrera cup car.
I need a good engineer, and I’m
training very hard to drive faster, but all these preparations cost
money and time. Well, this is racing and while every car has its little
tricks, the more you race in it, the faster you will be.
3) With the third edition of the
Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix coming up and with the arrival of the
Changi Motorsports Hub, do you think the local motorsports industry is
peaking at the right time?
Yes, it is climbing upwards and with
the presence of F1 in Singapore, it has created lots of awareness for
motorsports among the local public.
I am as excited as any motorsports
enthusiast who is waiting for the Changi Motorsports Hub to materialise.
I grew up racing in Singapore car park rallies when I first started so I
am already dreaming of weekend track days.
4) What are your future career plans in motorsports racing?
To me, racing is not a career anymore
as I do it mostly out of passion and for the love for driving! I will
try to get the support I need to continue driving as long as I can and
when the permanent track is here, I would love to share what I have done
all these years with the younger generation of racers so that they can
continue to fly our flag up high!
[Read the rest of this article...]
ssc_marcomms posted on August 30, 2007 23:12 
Photo: BMW Motorsport and Richard Bradley Media
Singapore-based ace karter
Richard Bradley is making waves in the local and regional motorsport
scene. Competing in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship this season,
Richard is currently leading the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup.
Making the transition from racing
karts to single-seaters when he moved to Singapore at the end of last
year, Richard last raced in a kart last November. He made a return to
kart racing in June this year at the opening round of the Asian Open
Karting Championship (AKOC) where he clinched pole position before going
on to win all three heats, the pre-final as well as the final at the
Formula 125 Senior class of AKOC. Richard races proudly under the
Singapore flag as his race license was issued by the Singapore Motor
Sport Association.
We got the opportunity to speak
to him about his career experiences and ambitions, as well as his
participation in the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
1. Share with us some of the highlights of your journey so far.
This is my first year racing in
Formula cars, having raced in karts since I was eight. The biggest
highlight so far is winning my first two car races at the opening round
of the (Formula BMW Pacific) season where I qualified on pole, led the
race from start to finish, won both races and set the fastest lap time
ever in a Formula BMW for the Sepang International Circuit. Also, the
feeling of winning at an F1 race (Formula BMW was a support race to the
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix) was incredulous!
As for my kart racing career, I’ve raced at KF1
(Karting Formula 1), the highest level of kart racing. Since I first
karted at the age of eight, I’ve won numerous titles, including the 2008
British Open Championship. I became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, I was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.
2. What do you hope to achieve out of your motorsports career?
I am aiming to win the
Formula BMW Pacific championship this year, before moving on to secure a
seat in Formula 3 next year. As with all professional sports,
sponsorship support is important as we go up the ladder. With the right
level of technical and commercial support, I hope to get to the highest
level of motor racing and be in Formula 1 within the next five years.
3. In September you will be driving right here on home ground at the Singapore Grand Prix. How do you feel about it?
I am really excited about getting
to drive on home ground in front of the Singaporean crowd. The lights
are already being set up now and I’m looking forward to the race. It
will be my first time driving on a street circuit and I hope to fly the
Singapore flag high at the top of the podium that weekend. I will do my
best to achieve a good performance and do Singapore proud.
[Read the rest of this article...]
ssc_marcomms posted on August 30, 2007 23:03
An artist’s impression of the Changi Motorsports Hub
Come
the beginning of 2012, motorsports enthusiasts in Singapore will not
need to travel overseas for a spin around the track as a new motorsports
playground will be awaiting them at the eastern tip of the island.
Known
as the Changi Motorsports Hub, this motorsports facility is poised to
become Asia’s premier racing destination, creating vibrant business and
entertainment opportunities. SG Changi is the company behind Singapore's
first permanent motor racing track.
With a
proposed 3.7 kilometre race track designed by renowned track specialists
from Japan, this S$330 million development is able to house 20,000
spectators in the main grandstand and will have additional temporary
seating capacity in excess of 10,000. Spectators will be offered
seamless view of the entire race from the start to the finish from all
viewing platforms.
One of the main focuses of
the Changi Motorsports Hub is a racing academy with programmes such as
junior kart racing and technical training for motorsports enthusiasts.
The
Changi Motorsports Hub is divided into four zones- Chill Out,
Automobile World, Automobile Racing and Fun & Entertainment - to
cater to both motorsports fans as well as the family oriented.
To
enhance the consumer experience, a main promenade will be featured to
create a village “feel” to the site, a common concept which originated
from Europe. A motorsports museum is also among the list of
comprehensive facilities to be built at the site.
Green
initiatives are taken by SG Changi at every step of the race track
design process to minimise all environmental impacts caused by the
project through the use of green building and technology in areas such
as heat reduction and systems power generation.
[Read the rest of this article...]
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