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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Is F1 losing its allure in S'pore?

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http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/Motorworld/Story/A1Story20120921-372945.html

Some Singaporeans are wondering if some of the F1 buzz has dissipated like exhaust fumes for the fifth edition of the Singapore Grand Prix.

In 2012, four years after the inaugural race shot off the grid with a bang, negotiations for a new five-year deal have stalled and grumbling continues about the inconvenience of a street circuit.

And it begs the question whether the novelty of the F1 race has entered the pit lane and is slowing to a crawl.

There is no doubt that Singapore and its brand image have benefited from the association with this glamorous motorsport, not least of all for the ability to pull off the sheer logistics of such a major spectacle in the heart of the city.

By riding on Formula One, the Republic has received international attention for its stunning skyline and unique carnival-like atmosphere of the first and only night race on the calendar.

One direct benefit has been more than $560 million in incremental tourism receipts over the last four races, according to the government.

But going into its fifth year of F1 racing, some claim local excitement is waning and ask if it is possible to squeeze more mileage out of this annual event.

One F1 Paddock Club regular believes the ordinary Singaporean is more indifferent to F1 today than he was when it first arrived in 2008.

"Formula One is an elite event where the audience can't get close to the cars or the drivers, unless you are one of the privileged few invited to the Paddock Club. So that restricts audience participation and reduces emotional involvement."

This year, stronger overseas interest seems due more to the spectacular entertainment line-up than about racing.

The big draw among the 38 acts are Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Jay Chou, because it is said to be easier to attend their concerts here than abroad.

Then there is the traffic, noise and pollution, especially for those in the Marina Bay area.

Shopowners in the Marina Bay area are naturally the most affected by the detours enforced when F1 is in town, but even some of those in town say business doesn't spike up noticeably during this period.

"Maybe Singaporeans aren't too excited about F1 because it's cheaper and more convenient to watch it on TV," said one local fan.

"When you are sitting trackside, all you see is one small section of the race. But on TV, you can follow the cars and listen to the commentary."

And if Singaporeans appear tired of F1, they are not alone in Asia.

The empty stands during the Chinese and Indian races also seem to reflect the same lack of interest.

"If you want to be frank about it, F1 is mostly for the wealthy and well-connected who want to socialise," said the Paddock Club regular.

"Would you pay for an $8,000 ticket if it wasn't given to you by your corporate host?

For a more quantitative measure of whether F1 has really lost its allure in Singapore, perhaps ticket sales can be an indicator.

For the inaugural race in 2008, 100,000 tickets were sold. There was a global economic downturn in 2009, resulting in a total of just 79,000 tickets.

But things picked up again the following year with 87,000 tickets released.

It dipped again in 2011 to 82,500.

This year, however, race promoter Singapore GP has been unable to provide the total tally. But one executive in his high-rise office overlooking the circuit claims there are fewer spectator stands this year.

"They are more spaced out and some have fewer rows," he said.

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