The Night Race A Decade On
The unique Singapore Grand Prix, now nearly ten years old, continues to bring in global audiences and remains one of the most exciting events on the F1 calendar
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Ask a F1 fan for the most recognisable race and you’ll get two answers: there’s Monaco, with the tight street circuit bringing cars to a near-standstill as they swivel around, hairpin after hairpin, with super-yachts parked in the background. The race is so old, running since 1929, it predates the World Championships. And then there’s Singapore: the young but iconic night race. The inky black circuit ablaze with floodlights, cars race in saturated colour against a silhouetted world.
Today the concept of a night race is so popular it seems obvious. But back in 2008, when Singapore first held the inaugural night race, the concept was so foreign it seemed risqué. Doubters suggested the lights might fail or rain might bring the race to a halt. But then the lights went up, the first practice session began, and the theatrical qualities were immediately obvious.
TV audiences witnessed the full cinematic effect and the 300,000 on-site spectators partied after dark in what turned out to be one of the most thrilling and controversial races in F1 history. McLaren’s then-chief executive Ron Dennis called it a “big step in the history of Grand Prix racing”. Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart said the race was such a triumph it put a new gloss on the motorsport series.
Fast-forward 10 years and Singapore is now a highlight on the F1 calendar. The ultra-high speeds combined with manic turns leads to a thrilling battle. It’s what you get when you create a track solely for F1 adrenaline. Lewis Hamilton calls it “my kind of track”.
Investments in the fan experience have also turned Singapore into a festival as much it is as a race, attracting fans from all corners of the globe to the heart of downtown Singapore for 3 nights of lavish dining and partying to the likes of Queen + Adam Lambert, Bon Jovi, and Rihanna.
