Gentlemen Start Your Engines!

They may say gentleman start your engines in NASCAR but we can assure you that Formula One is not NASCAR. Sure they have racing teams, checkered flags and fine-tuned cars that drive really fast. But if you want to compare them they’re more like second cousins than sisters. 

Singapore has been a part of the Formula One Grand Prix Circuit for seven years and as Singapore tends to do- they strive to make their stop the biggest and most memorable. They shut down much of the Financial District for the race and start building the infrastructure three months in advance!  This year was just as impressive as past years with post-race concerts from John Legend, Jennifer Lopez and an inter-team battle for first place in the standings within the Mercedes team.

We started watching the Formula One races when we moved to Singapore so we we’re in the know when the race rolled into town in mid-September. In order to be well versed we did some research and here are a few facts for you… 

•          Singapore was the first nighttime grand prix and the track features 1,600 lighting projectors.
•         The Marina Bay Street Circuit has an average speed of just 170 km/h (106 mph), making it the second-slowest track of the year after Monaco. 10 of its 23 corners are taken in first or second gear and less than 50% of the lap is spent at full throttle
•         Only three different drivers have won the Singapore Grand Prix in its first seven running’s. Five of the six winners have come from pole position (i.e. first place).
•         There has never been an F1 driver from Singapore.
•          The Singapore Marina Bay Circuit is also one of the most demanding to drive - not only do drivers have to make an average of 80 gear changes per lap, but due to the heat and humidity, drivers can lose up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs.) of fluid during the race.
•         There are so many other interesting facts such as the cars are not allowed to refuel and are only allowed to have three sets of tires (spelled tyres on this side of the world.)

The race is a big deal for not only the locals but for all of Southeast Asia. The festivities start on a Friday with practice laps, then time trials on Saturday and the big race on Sunday. Raegen was busy all weekend hosting customers from all over for work in a suite at the Fullerton Hotel on turn 13. It was a great spot and hopefully the thrill and excitement of the race helped him to close some big deals.

I was lucky enough to watch two of the three nights of racing at the Singapore Cricket Club which had a view of the longest stretch of the track including a chicane affectionately called the “Singapore Sling.”

The selfie stick makes an appearance for a group photo of the course safety crew. 

Sunday night’s race was a typical F1 race as it wasn’t short of drama. The inter-team rivals Rosberg and Hamilton were starting in the one-two position and at the start of the race. Rosberg (who was in first place in the standings at the start of the race) had a mechanical failure and failed to start the race. Hamilton ended up winning the race and taking the lead in the standings.

The racing was electrifying and just as exciting was Sunday night’s off-track event, the Jennifer Lopez concert. Three days of racing and excitement were exhausting. So much so that we both slept through two alarm clocks on Monday morning and I missed my early morning flight. It all worked out in the end with just a 24 hour set back. Off to the next adventure!

J-Lo Concert

Happy Trails,

Amy & Raegen 

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