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Formula One is a dying art in Singapore

Formula One is a dying art in Singapore

Nic_low

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It is the annual Formula One race this weekend - for the sixth time. And if you're reading this, you would have known that the Singapore Grand Prix is the only night race in the entire race calendar. And that we will continue to have a taste of the high-octane event for the next five years (including the current). But with the race failing to keep up the passion for motorsports on our local grounds, how will things fare afterwards?

 

The small nation has proven that it has the capacity to hold an event of such scale (and glamour). What's arguable lies in its ability to keep the passion running, and strong. Of course, being a small country has its disadvantages. For instance, we cannot simply rely on the locals to fill the seats, although that was never part of the equation. Hence, the need for more promotion on Rihanna and Justin Bieber rather than Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

 

But by keeping the crowds entertained with different sort of actions (on the stage rather than neck-breaking, ear-piercing ones on the track), we do wonder if that is a good thing to do. Then again, what is the definition of a 'good' thing?

 

All of us have different motives. The authorities want revenue and fame, the public - whatever that catches their attention, and motoring nuts - to keep the motorsports passion alive.

 

We can go on and rant about the dying art, and how it wouldn't have made it if it went the orthodox way - pure, adrenaline-filled racing without the trackside 'distractions'.

 

Let's, then, talk about the future. More night races to join the calender would diminish the edge we have over other races, which means we're running out of novelty. And less participation may just spell doom for the sports.

 

Or maybe there isn't one here, for motorsports, to begin with.




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Motorsports would be thriving here, if the powers-that-be didn't have such a stranglehold on things. The Changi Motorsports Hub would have flourished in Singapore, except for the fact that the Singapore Sports Council wouldn't make any concessions toward the investors who were willing to take the risk to develop the land. I've personally spoken to an actual tenderer, and he was very disappointed with how the whole thing turned out.

 

As long as the people at the top are going to be more interested in swinging a golf club at a small dimpled white ball than gripping a steering wheel, white-knuckled, motorsports is going nowhere fast in Singapore.

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Whilst F1 provides a single "shot" of motorsport here in Singapore, the organisers have not used the event to bring a broader understanding of high quality categories.

If the V8 Supercars were to be added to the race weekend schedule it would give locals a much greater exposure to world class racing as well as bring more fans and justify the high ticket costs.

Watching local Porsche Cup and pathetic Astons is not good enough.

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Lets just say someone whom is very high in position working for SSC hates automobiles and loves Pubic Lansport.

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Singapore is after revenue. From the efforts of a make shift track, there's no passion in F1. Look at our night race and the number of race interruptions due to crashes. Is F1 about adrenalin pumping high speed overtaking manoeuvre or about test of skills navigating thru traffic congestion on narrow bumpy unforgiving streets, and exposing the drivers to unnecessary dangers? F1 should move out of singapore to better venues, countries that will dedicate a track worthy of F1.

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It has become a spectacle for the rich and the well connected to-you-know-who. Too commercialized and it's actually a mockery of the racing sports, in my humble opinion.

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We need a local race track... even if it's an abandoned carpark also can like the old kallang rallies

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