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Tag: F1

  • Man Arrested For F1 Track Invasion

    Man Arrested For F1 Track Invasion

    Police have arrested an unidentified man who was captured on live footage sauntering on the race track midway through the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix (GP) on Sunday (Sep 20).

    At about 1am, police confirmed a 27-year-old man was arrested for Rash Act and is now assisting with investigations.

    The individual, who was clad in a T-shirt and boardshorts, strolled along the side of the Esplanade Drive section of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where cars reach top speeds of 290km/h.

    Then-race leader Sebastian Vettel, who eventually won, radioed his team shouting: “There is a man on the track, there is a man on the track.” Runner-up Daniel Ricciardo also told his team that the individual “was taking a video”.

    The safety car was immediately deployed onto the race track but after a brief amble, the man hopped back into the stands.

    “I had to look again as I wasn’t sure if I had a problem with my eyesight and that I actually saw somebody crossing the track,” Vettel told reporters.

    “The team said on the radio that someone was on the track, I think I saw him take a picture so I hope it was a good one at least… in focus.

    “It was pretty crazy though, we approach that corner at around 280-290 clicks (km per hour) so I wouldn’t be crossing the track if I was him but it was good to see the safety car come out straight away.

    “Maybe next season we need to block the grandstands a bit better and fortunately nothing happened to us and nothing happened to him. It was pretty odd, not what you expect to see when you come around to the next corner.”

    Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, who finished runner-up to Vettel, was not impressed by the intrusion, saying the introduction of the safety car might have cost him a chance of winning the race .

    “Thanks to the guy on the track…appreciate it!” Vettel joked. “I was tempted to swerve – clip him!”

    Shortly after the incident, another spectator at the Singapore GP tweeted a photo of a separately open and unmanned gate to the track.

    Similar invasions, while uncommon, have happened in the past, raising concerns about security at Formula One races.

    An Irish former priest ran onto the track during the 2003 British Grand Prix while a disgruntled Mercedes Benz employee invaded the Hockenheim track during the 2001 German Grand Prix.

    Earlier this year, a spectator ran across the track in front of cars travelling at 260km/h during practice for the Chinese Grand Prix.

    Apprehended by security and handed over to police, he explained that he had wanted to drive one of the cars.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • F1 And SIA: A Match Made In Heaven?

    F1 And SIA: A Match Made In Heaven?

    Now into its second year of the sponsorship deal between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Formula One Grand Prix, the national carrier said it is reaping the returns in both commercial and intangible terms.

    Industry observers added that financially, the deal is estimated to have more than paid off the investment. SIA said its involvement is not just about advertising its name, it is about bringing the sport to the community.

    But being the national carrier, SIA also benefits from higher ticket sales as fans from the region fly into Singapore to enjoy the only night race on the F1 calendar.

    According to observers, while sponsorships tend to be a more integral part of business in the West, the landscape is less developed in Asia. So as one of the early movers, some said SIA is likely to have higher returns on investment.

    Details of the sponsorship are kept confidential, and there are no numbers from SIA on how the F1 tie-up helps its bottomline.

    But one industry watcher estimates that it is likely to have paid off financially.

    Mr Jochen Wirtz, Professor of Marketing at NUS Business School, said: “Just from a financial point of view, a breakeven would be somewhere between 10,000 to 20,000 tickets. And if you look at the numbers, there are about 85,000 visitors to F1, of which about 40,000 fly in from other countries.

    “That means for SIA to break even, they have to capture about 25 to 50 per cent of this incremental travel, and I think that is not an unreasonable number. So just on short-term financials, I think there is a good possibility for Singapore Airlines to break even.”

    Mr Wirtz said this does not include the intangible benefits to SIA, such as marketing exposure and greater brand recognition globally.

    SIA itself recognises that the partnership helps to enhance its brand image and international exposure.

    Said Mr Sheldon Hee, vice president of marketing communications and development at Singapore Airlines: “The global economy goes through its cycles. And for us, building on a platform like the Formula One, the Singapore race is an opportunity for us to position Singapore and Singapore Airlines in the minds of consumers, be it now or be it in a couple of years when they can travel again.

    “There will be opportunities for us to capture some of this interest, and hopefully bring them via Singapore or into Singapore on Singapore Airlines.”

    SIA recently announced that it would extend its sponsorship of the Grand Prix event until 2017.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Religious Leaders Conducted Prayers For Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix

    Religious Leaders Conducted Prayers For Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix

    SINGAPORE: With the gaze of the motor racing world set to be firmly focused on Singapore next week with the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, the organisers have left nothing to chance to ensure it runs smoothly.

    A ceremony was held at the race’s Marina Bay Street Circuit on Wednesday (Sep 10), where religious leaders from Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, Judaism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism and the Baha’i faith conducted prayers for good weather and the safety of the 23 drivers and their teams, race officials and spectators.

    “As we gear up and put the finishing touches to the Marina Bay Street Circuit, we will not leave anything to chance,” said Mr Colin Syn, deputy chairman of Singapore GP, the event’s promoters and organisers.

    “We are honoured to have the religious leaders representing various faiths with us here today to participate in this tradition to bless the track and pray for the event.”

    The tradition, which started with the inaugural race in 2008, was continued as the finishing touches were put to the 5.065km circuit for this year’s edition.

    Coming into the Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg leads the drivers’ championship with 238 points, ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton (216) and third-placed Daniel Ricciardo (166) of Red Bull.

    Last year’s Singapore Grand Prix winner, four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, is sixth with 106 points.

    Mercedes also lead the constructors’ championship with 454 points, ahead of Red Bull (272) and Williams (177).

    Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/track-blessing-tradition/1356396.html