22 replies to this topic

[Italiano Tifoso]

Hi all,

Quick question to anyone who has been to the Singapore GP, i am looking to go this year and wondered if anyone had been before and could recommend a specific stand?

[Dunder]

Based on last year, opposite the end of the pit lane would be the best place to be if you want a good laugh

Sorry couldn't resist

[Italiano Tifoso]

Originally posted by Dunder
Based on last year, opposite the end of the pit lane would be the best place to be if you want a good laugh

Sorry couldn't resist

Nice, way to kick a man when he's down.;)

But i already saw the benny hill special last week.

[CatharticF1]

Just to bump this thread..

A couple of friends of mine will be in Singapore during the GP.

They were thinking of the 'Bay' grandstand, which apparently allows access to the Zone 4 'Walkabout' areas as well. Is that a good idea or should they get the 3-day 'Walkabout' pass? Are the grandstands worthwhile..?

Did ANYONE go to the Singapore GP last year who wants to admit it?!

[Sith]

I went to the Singapore race last year. Grandstand is the only way to go. The best view being the one outside turn 1. There were many drivers over shooting their entry there given how it tightnens up going into turn 2.

[Slurp1955]

Agreed, Grandstands are the only way you will see any of the action. I was in the Pits Grandstand last year, directly opposite the fun and games at Ferrari - it was very expensive (1400 SGD!) however. Also the atmosphere around the walkabout areas was great, although the on-track catering was very poor and very expensive. A shame as Singapore is one the great places on earth to eat. We were only allowed to take one bottle of water each into the Circuit, everything else has to be bought at Bernies Outlet Villages - a captive audience once you're in. I'm going again next year, and would pick Turn 1. The Bay Area Grandstand is an interesting option, as the circuit flies through it, and there are big screens opposite, but you dont see much of the track.



The view for SGD1400!

Edited by Slurp1955, 29 June 2009 - 17:52.

[pinnacle racing]

I'm thinking of going too. Does anybody recommend the Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand? It's near turn 16 and 17.

[Jragon]

Wow..from the photo, you had great seats! How much is that in the US Dollar? I'm looking at that race as the next option..possibly next year. But I'm hoping Canada or the US will get on the circuit soon...

[Rob29]

Wow..from the photo, you had great seats! How much is that in the US Dollar? I'm looking at that race as the next option..possibly next year. But I'm hoping Canada or the US will get on the circuit soon...

Yes VERY expensive exchange rate I have found quoted for singapore dollar 2.3 per UK£-I make that around 900$US

[Slurp1955]

Well, it was a three-day pass, and worked out at £580 sterling. I don't think we will see a return to the US or Canada in the near future unless the organisers come up with the $25 million or so Bernie charges new circuits like Singapore for a GP, or the big manufacturers insist on F1 races in areas they actually sell cars. A shame, as Montreal is still on our "to-do" list!

[treblers]

Hi there, if anyone is interested, I won some tickets for this years race from one of the sponsors.

Since I cant use them all, I'm selling them below the actual selling price.

http://shop.ebay.com...QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ

Cheers!

Interested parties can contact me at treblers@gmail.com

[KLN]

Hi there, if anyone is interested, I won some tickets for this years race from one of the sponsors.

Since I cant use them all, I'm selling them below the actual selling price.

http://shop.ebay.com...QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ

Cheers!

Interested parties can contact me at treblers@gmail.com

does anyone know if this guy is legit. he has a lot of tickets for sale. not the sort of time that you want to find out their not legit.

[jransom]

Just Back from Singapore 2009 sat In Esplanade Waterfront - would have been good seats except for a tree that blocks your view of the first turn - Felt that all ticket prices were very expensive for the views you got Monaco prices for a circuit without the glamor and History - Food was excelent as they were proper restaurants - but beer at £4.00 a bottle was a bit steep - organisation was excellent with no problems getting in or out of the circuit - A Great exeriance but would not repeat.

[pac]

Just Back from Singapore 2009 sat In Esplanade Waterfront[...]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[KLN]

Back too.
sat in top row of main grandstand opposite pits. could still see turn 1 easily from there as well as entrance to pits.
food was excellent this year in the village area. i ate all three nights from the Hilton Hotel Marquee. the Laksa's and the grilled chicken and rice were fantastic.
and cheap - only $8 SGD for a serve of food. drinks disgustingly priced tho. $18 SGD for a large vodka and orange (it was large), but $20 SGD for a glass of Moet.
even worse, $5 SGD for a bottle of water. also back from Suzuka where bottle of water were only $1.50 (approx AUD).

[pac]

Back too[...]

Good feedback Kathe - Thanks!

Hope you guys had fun even with the high drinks prices

[Phil_Bishop]

I'm just back from the race too and here are my thoughts.

So far I have been to races in England, Monaco, Belgium, Italy and Malaysia and I reckon the Singapore experience is up there with the best of them. I’m sure other tracks have better racing but the overall experience of Singapore is what I’m talking about.

Singapore is a great city and well worth a visit regardless of attending the GP. If you go, track down a restaurant called Samy’s Curry for lunch and be sure to order the fish head curry and wash it down with lime soda as these were excellent. (samyscurry.com)

As the circuit is located right in the heart of the city, getting there was incredibly easy and once at the circuit there were a huge number of stewards to direct us to where we wanted to go and the general signposting was also excellent. Our tickets gave us access to zones 1, 2, 3 & 4 which I think is pretty much the whole track - be careful to check when you choose yours as some only gave access to 1 or 2 zones which can be restrictive if you spend all day at the track. We took in different support races at different locations - something you may not be able to do with other ticket choices.

Our seats were: Turn 1 Grandstand, Block A5, Row : 1 (yes first row!), Seat(s): 17 & 18. These gave an excellent view of cars coming out of the main straight (or out of the pits) into turn 1, through turn 2 and into turn 3. Seeing Webber go past me backwards and into the wall was a real spectacle. Two tickets for the whole weekend cost $2,376 SGD which is about £512 each (2.3 $ to the £).

The atmosphere was special. The track may not have the historical kudos of Spa, Silverstone or Monaco but the night race aspect adds a new & different dimension. It has to be seen and heard to be believed. The noise is immense, just like Monaco, as the sound bounces back from surrounding buildings and you are right on the circuit, not separated by a huge run-off area or gravel trap.

I agree that the food was excellent, varied and reasonably priced but disagree that it is Bernie's fault that drinks were expensive at the GP. Alcoholic drinks in Singapore are expensive EVERYWHERE you go as a result of a "sin tax". Obviously there is some further mark up because you are at a major (sporting) event but this is the same the world over - you just have to deal with it. At the race a 500ml bottle of mineral water cost $5 SGD (£2.15) which is pretty fair I reckon.

After all those drinks I was pleased to find that the toilet facilities were excellent. There were plenty of portaloos, all with fans to keep it reasonably cool. The loos were cleaned regularly and the soap and loo roll were replenished throughout the day/night. Without doubt this was better than any other race I have been too.

The entertainment after the race/quali was a bonus. As a 30 something who used to enjoy clubbing in the 90’s, catching the last 20 minutes of Carl Cox's set on Saturday took me back. There was a bunch of other acts too that seemed to cater for a number of tastes. Clearly this is not a main reason to go but a nice touch none the less.

A huge plus point of Singapore is the fact that it is a major hub for visiting the rest of Asia. We visited Bali before the race and Borneo the week after and the local flights cost next to nothing. Our flights from London were also pretty reasonable and the new A380 from Singapore airlines is wicked!

I recommend the race to anyone.

Cheers,

Phil

[pac]

Excellent first post - welcome Phil!

[Sith]

I'm just back from the race too and here are my thoughts.

So far I have been to races in England, Monaco, Belgium, Italy and Malaysia and I reckon the Singapore experience is up there with the best of them. I’m sure other tracks have better racing but the overall experience of Singapore is what I’m talking about.

Singapore is a great city and well worth a visit regardless of attending the GP. If you go, track down a restaurant called Samy’s Curry for lunch and be sure to order the fish head curry and wash it down with lime soda as these were excellent. (samyscurry.com)

As the circuit is located right in the heart of the city, getting there was incredibly easy and once at the circuit there were a huge number of stewards to direct us to where we wanted to go and the general signposting was also excellent. Our tickets gave us access to zones 1, 2, 3 & 4 which I think is pretty much the whole track - be careful to check when you choose yours as some only gave access to 1 or 2 zones which can be restrictive if you spend all day at the track. We took in different support races at different locations - something you may not be able to do with other ticket choices.

Our seats were: Turn 1 Grandstand, Block A5, Row : 1 (yes first row!), Seat(s): 17 & 18. These gave an excellent view of cars coming out of the main straight (or out of the pits) into turn 1, through turn 2 and into turn 3. Seeing Webber go past me backwards and into the wall was a real spectacle. Two tickets for the whole weekend cost $2,376 SGD which is about £512 each (2.3 $ to the £).

The atmosphere was special. The track may not have the historical kudos of Spa, Silverstone or Monaco but the night race aspect adds a new & different dimension. It has to be seen and heard to be believed. The noise is immense, just like Monaco, as the sound bounces back from surrounding buildings and you are right on the circuit, not separated by a huge run-off area or gravel trap.

I agree that the food was excellent, varied and reasonably priced but disagree that it is Bernie's fault that drinks were expensive at the GP. Alcoholic drinks in Singapore are expensive EVERYWHERE you go as a result of a "sin tax". Obviously there is some further mark up because you are at a major (sporting) event but this is the same the world over - you just have to deal with it. At the race a 500ml bottle of mineral water cost $5 SGD (£2.15) which is pretty fair I reckon.

After all those drinks I was pleased to find that the toilet facilities were excellent. There were plenty of portaloos, all with fans to keep it reasonably cool. The loos were cleaned regularly and the soap and loo roll were replenished throughout the day/night. Without doubt this was better than any other race I have been too.

The entertainment after the race/quali was a bonus. As a 30 something who used to enjoy clubbing in the 90’s, catching the last 20 minutes of Carl Cox's set on Saturday took me back. There was a bunch of other acts too that seemed to cater for a number of tastes. Clearly this is not a main reason to go but a nice touch none the less.

A huge plus point of Singapore is the fact that it is a major hub for visiting the rest of Asia. We visited Bali before the race and Borneo the week after and the local flights cost next to nothing. Our flights from London were also pretty reasonable and the new A380 from Singapore airlines is wicked!

I recommend the race to anyone.

Cheers,

Phil

Great post Phil.. I sat in those seats last year... This year i was on the start/finish line with KLN. It is a proper "street" circuit.. So i think they do a great job with all the animities and food stalls around the track.. (great local fresh food found at the stalls next to the esplanade theatres by the bay, waterside of the overpass just past turn 17) Having 3 stages placed around various points of the G.A area with all kind of bands playing only adds to the (night) experience!! (the Padang area is the coolist place to hang out with all the surrouding buildings lit up at night time)

[jonpollak]

So...you guys got to see LuLu own the joint huh?
AWESOME.

Sith...Pony up them pix damnit

Jp

[KLN]

oh JP, i've pondered this for a week now. the only LuLu that i know sings "to sir with love"
or are we talking Lewis - Lulu.
i've posted some pics on my facebook, but Sith has the classic.
no i take that back, i think my daughter has the classic Sith.

[fooodin]

Hi!!!!

Photos realy depict the great atmosphere around the walkbout areas.
I love singapore very much and planning to go there within couple of months. Its really a pleasure getting such a useful information about this great place from you. Whenever i will reach singapore , will surely pay a visit to this amazingplace . But as you said that that catering was very poor and expensive, was there any other fooding alternative which you can sugest to me so that i can follow it and don't waste my money?

I would also like to share your experiences at The Bay Area Grandstand next year.

But now can you do me a favor at the earliest? If yes, can you refer the names of some great places in Singapore as i don't want to miss those great places at any cost.

Waiting for your early response..........
Hope you will reply me soon.
Nice meeting you on Autosport.

Thanks in advance...

Neha Sood
Web Developer
www.foood.in

Agreed, Grandstands are the only way you will see any of the action. I was in the Pits Grandstand last year, directly opposite the fun and games at Ferrari - it was very expensive (1400 SGD!) however. Also the atmosphere around the walkabout areas was great, although the on-track catering was very poor and very expensive. A shame as Singapore is one the great places on earth to eat. We were only allowed to take one bottle of water each into the Circuit, everything else has to be bought at Bernies Outlet Villages - a captive audience once you're in. I'm going again next year, and would pick Turn 1. The Bay Area Grandstand is an interesting option, as the circuit flies through it, and there are big screens opposite, but you dont see much of the track.



The view for SGD1400!

Edited by fooodin, 05 November 2009 - 08:14.

[KLN]

Hi!!!!

Photos realy depict the great atmosphere around the walkbout areas.
I love singapore very much and planning to go there within couple of months. Its really a pleasure getting such a useful information about this great place from you. Whenever i will reach singapore , will surely pay a visit to this amazingplace . But as you said that that catering was very poor and expensive, was there any other fooding alternative which you can sugest to me so that i can follow it and don't waste my money?

I would also like to share your experiences at The Bay Area Grandstand next year.

But now can you do me a favor at the earliest? If yes, can you refer the names of some great places in Singapore as i don't want to miss those great places at any cost.

Waiting for your early response..........
Hope you will reply me soon.
Nice meeting you on Autosport.

Thanks in advance...

Neha Sood
Web Developer
www.foood.in

Singapore Zoo. we just caught a taxi out there and did it ourselves, but they say that the tourist trips with breakfast are very good, as you get to play with chimps as well. not sure about the night Zoo, we have enough night animals here in Australia.
Raffles Hotel. the "singapore sling" doesn't taste that good, but it's all part of the fun. even just to look around at Raffles is beautiful.
the restaurants and bars around Clarke and Robertson Quay are good fun too.
Taxi's are very cheap.
Didn't do much else touristy wise as we were at the track most of the time.

good luck