SINGAPORE : The price of a ticket to watch million-dollar cars speed down Singapore's downtown streets during next year's Formula 1 Grand Prix could be as low as $40 to $50.

This, however, is likely to be the price for standing-room-only tickets along the 5.26-km street circuit on race day.

Having set their sights on 100,000 ticketed spectators, with 60 to 70 per cent of them based here, Singapore GP, set up by hotel and property tycoon Ong Beng Seng to oversee for the Singapore F1 race, is expected to keep a substantial chunk of the tickets affordable — even as it woos the world's elite.

ON Sunday, 48 hours after it was announced that Singapore had successfully clinched hosting rights for the race, Mr Colin Syn, a director at Singapore GP, told TODAY: "We have yet to decide on the ticket pricing, but a large number will be affordable and (the prices will be) on par with all other Grand Prix races on the circuit."

Added fellow director Teo Hock Seng: "Ticket prices will have to be of international standard. The tickets will be tiered; the price for a three-day pass will be different from a single-day pass."

However, both men are confident that the final ticket prices will be competitive enough to ensure a massive turnout. Mr Teo, who is also the managing director of Hyundai vehicle distributors, Komoco Motors, noted: "Formula 1 is very much an elite event, but we expect that there will be a big rush for tickets when they go on sale.

"We are very confident that we will be able to get close to 100,000 fans for Singapore's first race."

A three-day pass at other F1 races in Asia can cost between $44 and $1,391 (see box). Across the Causeway, the cheapest tickets at the Malaysian Grand Prix cost RM50 ($22.40) for a single day Hillstand pass, which lets you sit in the open, exposed to the elements, on a grassy knoll overlooking the Sepang course.

At the other end of the spectrum, the organisers of the Singapore Grand Prix are likely to reserve between 10,000 and 15,000 tickets for the VVIPs, VIPs, corporate sponsors and guests of the organisers and racing teams — as is done at other F1 races.

Add to this some 20,000 diehard F1 fans from around the world, who are expected to pour into Singapore for the race, which is likely to be in September or early October next year.

This leaves an estimated 65,000 tickets for local enthusiasts. But just where will they be seated?

As far as seating arrangements go, Mr Syn told TODAY that it would only be finalised once the street circuit was confirmed. But well aware of the island's scorching days and sudden downpours, he added: "Wherever possible, we will try to get stands in for the fans. The only problem we could have now is that there are too many trees along the circuit. Even if we have to fit stands between the trees, we will.

"The race circuit has yet to be finalised and once we get that done, we will be able to seek permission from the Land Transport Authority on issues like how many lanes we will be able to close at certain areas. Only then will be able to finally decide where the stands will go up."

Based on the working plan, which may change, there is likely to be a permanent seating stand at the Start/Finish line along the Marina Channel – with the best view of the chequered flag. After the first turn, cars will race down Marina Promenade Park, zipping between the fans' stand and the floating platform.

The floating platform is the venue for this year's National Day Parade and when completed the stand facing the platform should seat about 27,000 people – however with minor alterations to the structure for the Singapore F1 race, the stand is expected to seat about 23,000 people.

Stands are also expected to be built around the Marina Centre Gardens area, along Esplanade Drive and St Andrews Road, depending on the number of lanes of road which will be closed for the race.

By using a street circuit, Singapore GP organisers acknowledge that there is a likelihood of leakage – essentially people watching the race for free from public vantage points. For example, anyone who stands along the Benjamin Sheares Bridge should be able to catch a very good view of the race.

Mr Teo said they were aware of such loopholes and the authorities would be roped in to plug them. Among them, the former Assistant Chief of General Staff (Training), Brigadier General (Retired) Lawrence Leong, who recently joined the Singapore Tourism Board, and will now sit on the Singapore Grand Prix working committee. Mr Teo said: "One of his roles will be to help us liase with all the government agencies involved in the F1, like the police and Land Transport Authority, to help sort out all logistical woes." - TODAY/ra

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