The Night Race Place

Official Review by Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey Special Correspondent

In 2008, Singapore inaugurated the first night race in Formula 1 history. Since then, the race has grown in popularity and prestige, bringing this tiny city-state plenty of recognition and tourist dollars every September.

The race is run on city streets around Marina Bay, near the city center. Days before the event, workers begin installing stands and closing streets to normal traffic in preparation for the weekend that will follow. As with each F1 race, Friday is a 2-practice day, the third practice is Saturday followed by qualifying, with the race on Sunday. There are two other lesser-known races as well so each day is filled with events from 3pm onwards.

Tickets were sold out before race day, but the organizers made some walkabout tickets available on Sunday morning and I was able to pick one up after queuing for an hour at the main ticket center in the Raffles Place Convention Center. A few hours later I made my way through gate 6 and enjoyed an evening of cars going very fast.

Food & Beverage    4

For such a large venue, there are surprisingly few food options. I was in zone 4, which is the biggest zone and spread out over a sizable area. There were a few stalls near gate 6, but the vast majority of food was over at the Padang, a large park area with a stage at the front, which is where the post-race concerts are held.

Despite the high cost of entry, food and drink options were reasonably priced and offered good variety that you would not find in a typical sports venue. Mostly there were Singaporean delicacies such as Satays (12 for S$12) and noodles, but there were Indian and Chinese choices too. The food I had was pretty good, and with beer actually cheaper than on the outside, it was hard to complain here.

Atmosphere    5

There is nothing like an F1 race, but it gets even better on a city circuit and even more interesting when it is at night. The roar of the engines, the lights of the city, and the flash as a car zooms past faster than you can even watch it. This is a truly unique event and I suspect the atmosphere here cannot be duplicated elsewhere. The atmosphere at an F1 race is unique and I can see why these fans spend the money just to be a part of it.

Neighborhood    5

The city of Singapore. I don't need to go on, but the venue is usually the major tourist area of the city, so you can spend the entire day around here before seeing the race. Just a few minutes away you will find Singapore's major nightlife scene at Boat Quay, where countless bars stand riverside, most with lots of TV screens for sports fans. The Fullerton Hotel stands next to gate 6; check out the Post Bar inside for some upscale cocktails before or after the race.

Fans    4

During the race, many fans didn't bother to watch the action live, but chose to follow on the large screens scattered about. So I'll dock a point for that. There's not a lot of cheering (what's the point with so much noise generated by the cars!) but that's not to say that fans are quiet, they are following the race closely; and they were knowledgeable and enjoying themselves immensely.


About an hour before the race, the drivers are paraded around the circuit in classic cars, waving to the assembled throng and the fans respond with loud cheers. It is an interesting tradition that gives the fans a chance to see their favorites without their helmets.

Access    5

There are 10 gates scattered around the circuit, and once inside, plenty of room to walk around. Those areas with the best vantage points do get crowded quickly but you can always find a spot to watch. You can even take a taxi right up to the gate, but don't bother driving yourself; there was no convenient parking that I could see.


Even leaving the race was hassle-free; after a short walk I was on the subway and on my way back to my hotel.


There are some areas that get crowded as you walk from one section of zone 4 to another, but this was well managed by event staff, who kept people walking on the proper side of the path thus avoiding any human traffic jams.


Toilets are mostly of the portable variety but they are plentiful and I never saw any waiting.

Return on Investment    3

Tickets are not cheap. If you want to watch only the race, the least expensive option in 2011 was a S$148 (US$ 116) walkabout ticket that was only good for Sunday. The walkabout ticket allows you into zone 4 (there are four "zones" total with different entertainment and seating options) which includes the Padang, a large park area surrounded by concessions and the concert stage. Near gate 6 is the Esplanade Bridge, one of the faster areas on the circuit. Along here are raised viewing platforms but these become extremely crowded as the race approaches and you are forced to stay there the whole time to save your spot.


If you wanted a seat, you were looking at S$298 for a 3-day ticket in the Bay Grandstand, and prices get progressively more expensive as you move towards better seats. The best are those in front of the pits, where the race begins and ends, and a 3-day ticket there would cost S$1,288.

For those that are willing to look around though, there are other options. For example, on Friday evening during practice 1, I was fortunate to find myself next to One Raffles Link, which hosts an Irish bar called Durty Nelly's. From here you can watch the cars race along Raffles Blvd until they hit turn 7, a sharp left turn that requires sudden braking and immediate acceleration off the turn. It was free to sit here and enjoy a beer while the drivers test the course. It was amazing to watch the differences in the driver skills as those at the top of the sport and with better cars were able to brake much closer to the turn, while the bottom feeders slowed down well in advance. There are some areas where there is no fence so you can get some good pictures, but don't forget your earplugs, it is very loud here.

Extras    3

They sell radio headphones at every race and you can use them at any F1 race. These allow you to listen to the race commentary and stave off deafness.


Upon completion of the race, fireworks were set off which made for an interesting sight with the Singapore Flyer in the distance.


Finally, each day has plenty of entertainment, with the main stage hosting a name act after each day's action. Linkin Park was the headliner this time and there are many who are not interested in the race but buy tickets just for the concerts.

Final Thoughts

Overall, an F1 race is something that any sports fan should experience. There are races all around the world, including one in Montreal. The 2011 season has been a bit boring with Sebastian Vettel's domination, but the sport itself is one of the most thrilling out there. If you've never seen an F1 race, this might be the one to check out.