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[EwanM]

Some parts of the circuit look really narrow though.

its narrowest parts are as wide as the widest parts of Monaco, so its not too bad.

When you put it like that, sounds pretty cool.
I especially like the floating football pitch. One thing id say also in that picture if your in a grandstand seat on the far left of the picture, your gonna be kinda short changed :S

[EwanM]

Bourdais praises 'unbelievable' Singapore

By Jonathan Noble Wednesday, September 24th 2008, 12:09 GMT


Sebastien Bourdais has praised as 'unbelievable' the job that Singapore Grand Prix officials have done ahead of Formula One's first night race this weekend - despite voicing safety fears about the design of the back chicane.

The Scuderia Toro Rosso driver, who has vast experience of street circuits and night racing from his years in Champ Car, has allayed any fears about a lack of visibility for drivers by claiming even he never expected the lighting around the track to be as good as he has found it.

"It is daylight," Bourdais told autosport.com as preparations continued at the Marina Bay circuit on Wednesday. "The most unbelievable job they have done is with the lighting. It is quite impressive. You have all these structures built around the place, all overhead. It's quite impressive – I have never seen anything like it."

Although happy about the lighting at the circuit and most of the layout, he is worried about the tight chicane that has been built at Turn 10 – and especially the high bumps over the kerbs that will likely launch cars that hit them.

"I walked the track for the first time yesterday, and they did a really good job," he explained. "I'm quite impressed. It is obviously a huge undertaking when you have to build from scratch, but I think they did really well.

"The only thing I am a bit bewildered by is the chicane (at Turn 10) that they have put together. I can see why they have done it because there is no run off there, and it would be a fast and open corner if you did not do something, but even so!

"We had a similar problem in Champ Car when they were trying to prevent cars from short cutting chicanes at Monterrey, and the things were half the size of what they are right now – and we were smashing the tubs there left and right.

"Since you don't go and buy a Lola or whatever it is these days in F1, you cannot really afford to damage cars. I haven't seen Charlie (Whiting, F1 race director) yet, but I am a bit surprised. There are fixes for this though.

"The pit entry also seems to be a bit dodgy. You will be running quite a bit quicker than the guy who is going to pit, and you are all going to get to the same point because the entry is just hard left.

"So these are my only two concerns – otherwise the rest of the track is really nicely done. It is a nice track."

And he has drawn short of making any prediction for how the event will be if it is hit with the kind of storms that F1 personnel witnessed when they arrived in Singapore on Wednesday morning.

When asked if he was worried about a rain-hit race, he said: "I know what this kind of weather is like when it rains because I have been living in Florida for a long time – so for sure if it downpours like it can then it might be a bit interesting But let's hope not!

"It is not even a challenge then – it is only adequate for a boat rather than anything else when it rains around these places."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/70806

[Ferrarista]

I hope Bourdais can turn the tide and win some points again, he deserves it...it would be a shame to watch him leave the F1, I kind a like his personality . Sober, just there for some good racing. Even if it seems Vettel is doing a much better job, I think Bourdais 's season hasn't been a failure. Give the guy some time, he'll do a better job in 2009.

[7UpJordan]

I hope Bourdais does well here this weekend, especially after the amount of points he had robbed from him in the past 2 races. His performances recently in my mind have done him enough for a seat next year, if he doesn't get kept on for next year it would be a crime.

Now Williams have put up their preview, guess who said the following...

"It should be a good race for us as the track looks like it should suit our car pretty well and personally I always really enjoy racing on street circuits."

"We’ve been doing quite a bit of work in our simulator in preparation for this race and it looks like Singapore could be quite a complex circuit with lots of corners, but it should still suit our car."

Now was it either?

a. Nico and Kazuki
b. Fisi and Sutil
c. Kimi and Massa
d. Max and Bernie
e. "our Nige"

[przemo]

You gave away the answer in your signature

[McLaren Fan]

I hope Bourdais does well here this weekend, especially after the amount of points he had robbed from him in the past 2 races. His performances recently in my mind have done him enough for a seat next year, if he doesn't get kept on for next year it would be a crime.

Now Williams have put up their preview, guess who said the following...

"It should be a good race for us as the track looks like it should suit our car pretty well and personally I always really enjoy racing on street circuits."

"We’ve been doing quite a bit of work in our simulator in preparation for this race and it looks like Singapore could be quite a complex circuit with lots of corners, but it should still suit our car."

Now was it either?

a. Nico and Kazuki
b. Fisi and Sutil
c. Kimi and Massa
d. Max and Bernie
e. "our Nige"

Is it A?

[7UpJordan]

I hope Bourdais does well here this weekend, especially after the amount of points he had robbed from him in the past 2 races. His performances recently in my mind have done him enough for a seat next year, if he doesn't get kept on for next year it would be a crime.

Now Williams have put up their preview, guess who said the following...

"It should be a good race for us as the track looks like it should suit our car pretty well and personally I always really enjoy racing on street circuits."

"We’ve been doing quite a bit of work in our simulator in preparation for this race and it looks like Singapore could be quite a complex circuit with lots of corners, but it should still suit our car."

Now was it either?

a. Nico and Kazuki
b. Fisi and Sutil
c. Kimi and Massa
d. Max and Bernie
e. "our Nige"

Is it A?

As Roy Walker would say... RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somehow I don't think they'll be saying that in the 3 remaining races after Singapore, especially the awfully dreadful Shanghai circuit.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Felipe Massa has earmarked qualifying for this weekend's inaugural Singapore Grand Prix as a crucial element to his championship challenge.

The Ferrari driver, who trails McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by a single point with four races to go, thinks overtaking will be even more difficult on the twisty floodlit city circuit than it was at Valencia last month.

Valencia's European Grand Prix, staged on a faster urban circuit than Singapore, was slammed as a processional race that lacked overtaking moves.

"Saturday will be very important, for sure," Massa, 27, told the local Straits Times newspaper on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of a good grid position.

"I've never driven on the Singapore track but it'll be even more difficult to overtake compared to Valencia, because the straights are even shorter," the Brazilian added.

F1 veteran David Coulthard backs Massa's views about the Singapore layout.

"It appears to be less flowing than Valencia and more of a classic street track, with lots of 90-degree block changes, albeit a relatively wide one in most parts," the Red Bull driver said.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS Internationa

[Denthúl]

From F1 Live:

Felipe Massa has earmarked qualifying for this weekend's inaugural Singapore Grand Prix as a crucial element to his championship challenge.

The Ferrari driver, who trails McLaren's Lewis Hamilton by a single point with four races to go, thinks overtaking will be even more difficult on the twisty floodlit city circuit than it was at Valencia last month.

Valencia's European Grand Prix, staged on a faster urban circuit than Singapore, was slammed as a processional race that lacked overtaking moves.

"Saturday will be very important, for sure," Massa, 27, told the local Straits Times newspaper on Wednesday, highlighting the importance of a good grid position.

"I've never driven on the Singapore track but it'll be even more difficult to overtake compared to Valencia, because the straights are even shorter," the Brazilian added.

F1 veteran David Coulthard backs Massa's views about the Singapore layout.

"It appears to be less flowing than Valencia and more of a classic street track, with lots of 90-degree block changes, albeit a relatively wide one in most parts," the Red Bull driver said.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS Internationa

Damn. If that's true I might end up playing Final Fantasy for the afternoon. :/

[Mikep99]

Lap of Singapore with Nico Rosberg on the Williams F1 simulator (Video)
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/09/24/onboard-lap-of-singapore-with-nico-rosberg-on-the-williams-f1-simulator-video/

[EwanM]

Latest weather reports show that there is a very strong chance of rain on race day.
Paddock rumours are circulating that rain could be so bad (ala Monza Friday) that race may end up delayed on Sunday.
But that has been denied.

Going to be some weekend if things work out.

[Mikep99]

More photo's
The track is lit up well










Valerio Maioli S.p.a, an Italian company are the lighting consultant for this GP.

Do I smell a conspiracy theory brewing

[Kiwi_Chris]

The track looks pretty good - more like Montreal or Melbourne than Monaco in places. there seems to be a few overtaking places althouh i think its still gonna be a procession with about as much overtaking as a typical spanish gp i hope im wrong though

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Theissen: Singapore the highlight of '08

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, September 25th 2008, 14:09 GMT

BMW Sauber boss Mario Theissen believes the Singapore Grand Prix will be the highlight of the Formula One season.

A total of 1,500 projectors will illuminate the streets of Singapore this weekend, when the sport will see its first ever night race.

Theissen admitted he has been very impressed by the venue.

"It is a spectacular setting with the sky scrapers, highways and parks," said Theissen on Thursday.

"It is unbelievable. I walked the track yesterday and it is really different from what we have seen before. In terms of the track characteristics, it is a bit different from what I expected.

"When I was here in March I walked the track as well and it looked much quicker then in certain areas. I thought there were some quite difficult areas, especially on the approach to the bridge. That has been modified significantly and it looks like quite narrow corners.

"Safety has definitely improved, but at the expense of overtaking opportunities. So that is a bit different. But altogether and if you go beyond the track, looking at the hype here in Singapore and what they have done, the engagement of big companies over the weekend I think it will be the highlight of the season."

Theissen, however, is not sure if the Marina Bay circuit will allow for more overtaking than the Valencia circuit, which despite the praise it got, provided an eventuful race with no passing.

"As an event it is definitely good for F1. The question mark for me is the overtaking. As in Valencia. I expected much more in Valencia than actually happened and Valencia is definitely a quicker track than this one."

No on-track action and the event being good for Formula One is something of an oxymoron, I should think. If the race is processional, people will be put off the sport and have more ammunition to use against it. Virtually all Formula One fans and people casually watching the sport are not worried if the race comes is being held in Singapore or Ethiopia. They want to see good racing!

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

Alonso says Turn 10 kerbs a concern

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, September 25th 2008, 12:48 GMT

Fernando Alonso has voiced his concerns about the effect the bumps at Turn 10 could have during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend.

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Bourdais had already expressed worry about the tight chicane at Turn 10 and the high bumps over the kerbs that could damage a car going over them.

Renault's Alonso admitted on Thursday that he was concerned a driver's weekend could end early as a consequence of hitting the kerbs.

"It is not the best solution that they could find," said Alonso. "We worry that if you miss the chicane or miss the line then you have to go over the kerbs - and then perhaps you damage the chassis or damage the bottom.

"If you damage one car it is not a problem because you can take the T-car. But if you damage two, you go home. This is a concern at the moment.

"But I don't know what can be a better solution and I don't know if they are able to do it so quickly before tomorrow. So I don't know."

The FIA is looking at the situation, with race director Charlie Whiting having inspected the corner tonight.

Singapore organisers were also testing the backup lighting system tonight, deliberately switching off some of the lights to see how quick the backup came up.

I can't believe I'm reading this. If you make a mistake and go off the track, you should be out of the race or have a damaged car! Formula One drivers are wimps now.