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Motor Racing: Hive of activity as teams gear up for Singapore F1 Grand Prix
By Tan Yo-Hinn, TODAY | Posted: 22 September 2009 0704 hrs

 
 
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Special Report
Singapore Grand Prix


SINGAPORE: Most of the teams had only arrived 24 hours earlier, but the Pit Building was a hive of activity on Monday.

One garage that was shut was that of embattled French outfit Renault, who, in light of "Crashgate", were obviously waiting anxiously for news from Paris.

With the practice races of the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix starting at 6pm on Friday, requests for interviews with the likes of BMW-Sauber and Toyota were politely declined.

But Toro Rosso logistics coordinator Daniele Tartoni told TODAY his team were very happy with the organisation.

"It's a lot better than last year," said the 32-year-old Italian.

"Because it was the first time then, there was little idea about a lot of things, like where to set up the office. This year, everything we requested for has been provided, which made setting up our garage a lot easier.

"We have about 9,000kg of equipment, including the cars, and about 45 team personnel, so this is very important because we don't have a lot of space to work with here as the garages are smaller.

"The only problem, perhaps, is the heat."

The Italian outfit have had little to cheer about this season and are currently at the bottom of the 10-team constructors' standings with just five points.

But some of their backroom staff still managed to break into a jig when piped music was switched on to test the Paddock's sound system.

Of the 83,000 tickets available this year, more than 90 per cent have been sold despite the financial crisis and recent furore over last year's crash by Renault's Nelson Piquet Jr, which has tarnished the win of Fernando Alonso.

Said Tartoni: "It is not our business to comment on other teams, but we all know each other well and never like to see such things because it is not good for the sport."

On a brighter note, the Italian tipped McLaren's reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to win Sunday's race.

"After crashing in Monza, I believe Hamilton will want to win here even more," he said.

"But Brawn GP's Jenson Button is favourite for the drivers' championship. They tend to do better on hot surfaces like Singapore." -
TODAY

 


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