There is a big difference between the need for F1 drivers to be
aerobically fit and how they acquire that fitness.
This is taken from the official formula one website:
"...The most dependable form of exercise for drivers is
aerobic work - running, swimming and, increasingly,
cycling, as epitomised by Red Bull driver Mark
Webber....."
Yes, most F1 drivers are physically fit; but they do not get that
fitness by racing. If you want to get fit, F1 motoring is not the
way to go...you do it the way thousands of others do...running,
swimming, cycling....
Second, no matter how much greener F1 race cars have become over
the years (Honda, though not all other manufacturers, has launched
a low-environmental impact model), the fact remains that this is a
sport that sends powerful cars running round and round a circuit
for no purpose apart from the pleasure of being the fastest.
Friends of the earth isn't impressed even with Honda, the greenest
of them all:
"...Friends of the Earth's Emily Armistead wasn't convinced,
telling The Guardian that "there is some irony in the fact that
Honda are attempting to promote the environment and calling on
others to address environmental issues when they are contributing
to climate change by participating in what is probably the
most polluting sport on the planet."
(http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s169/st112642.htm)
It is quite disingenuous to compare passengers on an aircraft who
travels thousands of miles with a F1 driver who is back to where he
started after consuming litres of fuel and emitting tons of CO2.
The basic tenets of being environmentally friendly is to reduce,
reuse and recycle. F1 racing is not a green activity.
Whether F1 racing will promote irresponsible driving is a point of
debate and it is difficult to be certain either way. What is clear
is that it is a glamourous sport and that always attract young
people who would want to emulate their heroes. Not all will be able
to afford to travel to Sempang every weekend to practise on proper
race tracks and I expect there will be more illegal street races.
Certainly in the UK there have been calls to ban programmes that
highlight car racing:
(http://www.transport2000.org.uk/news/maintainNewsArticles.asp?NewsArticleID=239)
F1 racing can certainly earn millions for the economy, based on the
Asian experience in Malaysia and Shanghai. The Singapore government
is carefully considering the cost-benefit issues before allowing
the event. That is a pragmatic and correct move.
As for having a dedicated race track, that is out of the question.
In land scarce Singapore, that will be a white elephant and costs
far too much. It also defeats the purpose of showing off the sights
and lights of Singapore as a night race at the Esplanade
will.
