Motorsports To Put Changi On Fast Track

Source : The Business Times, October 17, 2007

Multi-million-dollar circuit being planned will host all sorts of races except Formula One

In time, they could be putting pedal to the metal and burning rubber in Changi.

Revving up: The project is expected to be offered to interested parties on a tender basis. Work is likely to begin early next year, and construction could take at least a year.

The government is expected to announce a plan soon for a new motorsports track in Changi.

The facility will host races by vehicles ranging from go-karts to touring cars, which are essentially souped-up saloons, as well as open-wheeled cars like those in the A1 Grand Prix. Anything, in fact, except Formula One cars.

This is because the Changi track is intended to be an 'accessory circuit', to complement the F1 race on a street circuit in the heart of the city already scheduled for next September.

'It doesn't make sense to build another circuit for F1,' says a source. 'This way, Singapore can have the best of both worlds.'

The project is intended to build on the huge interest in motorsports generated by Singapore's first F1 race, which will be held on Sept 28 next year.

'The aim is to have a facility that can sustain this interest all year round,' adds the source. 'It is a very good development for Singapore motorsports.'

The idea for a permanent circuit was believed to have been suggested by the Prime Minister's Office. But because it involves motorsports, it will come under the purview of the Singapore Sports Council.

The project is expected to be offered to interested parties on a tender basis. Work is likely to begin early next year, and construction will take at least a year.

There has been some speculation about the location of the circuit and several sites in Changi have been identified, including Loyang and the former site of the Asian Aerospace show.

But Loyang is too close to residential areas while there are security considerations over the other location because of its proximity to the airport.

Instead, land beside the Singapore Air Show grounds, off Changi Coast Road, is said to be the likely spot for the circuit. There will be enough space for a track of up to 4 km, a pit building, garages and other facilities.

How it would probably work is as follows. The government would identify the site and release the land along with the required approvals, with private sector bidders invited to propose the infrastructure.

'It is like an open-ended exercise and the best comparison is to the integrated resort - apart from the casino, the bidder can suggest what other buildings and attractions he thinks should accompany it,' says an industry observer.

Because of this process, the maximum cost of the project is hard to predict. 'It depends on how elaborate the final design will be,' the source says.

But the race track alone will cost around $4 million, with construction costing about $1 million per kilometre. 'Asphalt is expensive,' the source says.

Last year, it was reported that JTC Corp was due to award a site along Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, near the Tuas Checkpoint, for an $80 million race track. That proposal did not get the starting-flag, however.

State land on Tuas West Drive was nevertheless released earlier this year for Singapore's first motocross track. The 25,000 sq m site will have a 1.7 km track as well as infrastructure such as a grandstand, cafe and shops. Work is expected to be completed early next year.