The build-up to this year's inaugural Singapore Grand Prix continues apace, with circuit revisions continuing just months before the event makes history by becoming the first 'after dark' race in
Formula One history.
Changes to the way in which corners are numbered at the Marina Bay circuit mean that the course is officially reduced from 24 corners to 23 for the SingTel-backed event on 28 September. The change in designation reflects amendments to Turn Ten, at the end of St Andrew's Road after passing City Hall and The Padang.
“Previously what was Turn Ten and Eleven was actually three corners close together in a chicane configuration, created to provide the right geometry and corner speeds due to the lack of straight ahead run-off in this part of the circuit,” race director for technical/race operations, Michael McDonough, explained, "As it is created solely around what is in effect the approach to one corner, it was determined, in association with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, that one turn number be used with 'a', 'b' and 'c' identifying the change in geometry through the turn.”
As a result, the complex becomes 10a, 10b and 10c, while the numbering of corners is reduced by one around the rest of the circuit.
While corners may be disappearing, however, the number of grandstand seats continues to rise, following the unprecedented demand for tickets provoked by Singapore's addition to the calendar.
In just four months, over 90 per cent of the tickets available have been sold and, with around 100 days to go to the race, demand remains strong enough that race promoter Singapore GP Pte Ltd has decided to release an additional 1500 seats from tomorrow [Wednesday 3 July].
The Singapore Flyer Premier Grandstand will be converted to a larger conventional grandstand, while there will be a new grandstand, the Connaught, erected on Esplanade Drive, opposite the existing Esplanade stand. Three-day passes for these grandstands are priced at S$698.
