It’s very justified why I’m eager to see the 2011 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, and I’ve written below some of the reasons why you should be excited too:
Food and Dining
Singaporean cuisine features a melting pot of culinary influences, among them Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Pernakan, which fuses Chinese, Indonesian and Malay cuisine. Before or after the race, enjoy an array of Singaporean dishes, such as Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow, laksa, and satay in a multitude of restaurants and hawker centers. For this year’s grand prix season, the organizers are preparing an incredible 50,000 sticks of satay, 82,800 glasses of beer, 70,000 glasses of champagne, 100,000 glasses of soft drink, 6 million ice cubes, and 65,000 plates for an estimated 10,500 hospitality guests that will dine in food and beverage outlets across all zones in the grand prix circuit.
Location and Attractions
The expansive 700,000 sq m Marina Bay Street Circuit was built right in the heart of Singapore and showcases some of its most iconic landmarks—from the colonial to the modern.
Spectators will marvel at some of the magnificent structures around the circuit like the 1939 Old Supreme Court, perhaps the finest among Singapore’s buildings; the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, which dates back for almost 150 years and features a bronze statue of Sir Stamford Raffles; the Esplanade (Theatres on the Bay), which is usually compared to a durian fruit due to its thorns; the steel and glass Helix Bridge that offers spectacular views of the city; the largest observation wheel in the world, the Singapore Flyer; and of course, Singapore’s official symbol, the Merlion.
Before and after races, visitors will not run out of things to do elsewhere in Singapore. After all, Singapore has a well-balanced mix of nature, art, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, and leisure. Nature lovers will love to see the Jurong Bird Park and the Night Safari, while those into art and design will be delighted to see the Singapore Art Museum and the red dot design museum. Chinatown and Little India imbibes visitors in Chinese and Indian culture, while Singapore’s two integrated resorts, the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, which has Universal Studios Singapore, have a wide range of entertaining activities. Partygoers will enjoy the scene at Clarke Quay, and shopaholics will love the retail therapy at Orchard Road. Lastly, everyone must try the leisurely activities and attractions of Sentosa Island.
Entertainment
For this year, the organizers of Grand Prix Season Singapore have allotted a whopping 5 million Singapore dollars (~4.15 million USD) for its entertainment line up, and as usual, they have invited the biggest names to headline their roster. Grammy Award winner Linkin Park will do an electrifying performance of their hits to thousands of fans on Sunday, September 25 from 10:30 PM at Zone 4’s Padang Stage. Linkin Park is the band behind memorable hits like In the End and Numb.
Also a Grammy Award winner, Shakira will make her Singapore debut at Zone 4’s Padang Stage on September 24 from 11:15 PM. She will be performing familiar hits such as Hips Don’t Lie and Whenever Wherever, as well as new English and Spanish songs from her latest albums, She Wolf and Sale El Sol (The Sun Comes Out).Our very own Charice will also perform on September 23, Friday and September 24, Saturday at Zones 4 and 1, respectively. She joins other popular performers such as Shaggy, Rick Astley, Boy George, GD&Top and Seungri of Korea, and Daddy G and 3D of the UK.
But aside from these big performances, parties will be all over Singapore during the grand prix season. Avalon at Large will once again present GO!, the same party that saw some 16,000 partygoers on its debut last year. Spinning and performing on this September 23 event are the very renowned Benny Benassi, LMFAO, and Ludacris.Amber Lounge and Podium Lounge will once again host the most exclusive parties for an ultimate VIP nightlife experience. In these events would you see F1 drivers, celebrities, and other A-list personalities partying in style.
Meanwhile, Orchard Road will be even more glammed up as it hosts Rev Up @ Orchard 2011. Daily vibrant musical performances and fashion shows showcasing the latest Autumn/Winter collections will be staged in a four-meter high “stiletto” for free from September 16 to 25.
The entertainment does not end there as there will be lots of other performances and roving entertainers on the race days. Further, for this grand prix season, there will be 400 entertainers, 28 bands, and 10 performance stages. The 600,000 SGD Padang Stage at Zone 4 will have an expected audience of 30,000 for its daily concerts.
The Race
Started in 2008, the Singapore Grand Prix is the only night race in the F1 and has thus been called the “jewel of the Formula One crown.” The races are set at the 5.073 km Marina Bay Street Circuit that combines long straights and challenging turns that have dared even the finest of F1 drivers. This year will prove to be even more exhilarating and unpredictable with five former champions competing against regulars and a new breed of drivers amidst numerous technical rule changes.
This season, there will be 61 laps corresponding to 10 hours of track action and three race days from September 23 to 25.
Here are the exciting highlights of last year’s grand prix:
