By Ernest Luis
March 24, 2006
SINGAPOREANS, start your engines.
Get ready for screeching tyres, ear-piercing sounds and the smell
of burning rubber.
Come next March, Singapore should have its first proper
motor-racing track in Tuas.
The western region may seem a bit ulu (remote), a faraway area
where Singaporeans don't head to for leisure.
But Singaporeans, especially motor sports fans, will start to see
Tuas in a different light.
Work on the track, named Tuas International Speedway, is expected
to start in May.
Privately owned, it will cost an estimated $80 million.
But the racetrack will not be able to host Formula One races to
rival that of Malaysia's 5.54km-long Sepang circuit.
The New Paper has learnt that the 3.37km circuit can only match FIA
International Class 2 specifications.
Formula One tracks need Class 1 classification as extra land area
is needed for safety purposes such as wide run-offs.
For now, Tuas International Speedway will be able to stage Formula
3 races, such as the popular events held in Macau, GT (Grand
Touring) races and lower categories.
It's situated on a plot of land measuring about 600sqm - between
Asia-Pacific Breweries and Raffles Marina along Jalan Ahmad
Ibrahim, just before the Tuas checkpoint.
It is understood that the lease for the Jurong Town Corporation
(JTC) land is for 20 years, and a deal will be sealed soon.
An initial launch is expected next month.
Said a corporation spokesman: 'JTC Corporation is in the final
stages of negotiations to award to a private-sector consortium a
site in Tuas, to develop a motor racetrack capable of holding races
of international standards.
CLEARANCES
'The consortium is expecting to receive clearances from various
regulatory agencies within a short time. More details will be made
known probably in a month's time.'
The plot of land was targeted last year, in a bid spearheaded by
Singapore Agro Agriculture, which is behind food-and-retail hub
Turf City and kampung-style farm produce centre Farmart in
Tengah.
Its four main business partners have formed a new company to run
the racetrack.
They have been tight-lipped on the project since early last
year.
But The New Paper has been tracking these developments since last
April, when we published possible plans being studied for a Formula
One street circuit in the Shenton Way/Marina Bay area.
A check with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
showed that Tuas International Speedway Pte. Ltd. was was
registered on
26 Nov. The company was described as 'Car Racing Track
Operators'.
But, what good is a racetrack without a major event?
Well, yesterday, the Japan GT Association (JGTA) confirmed there
were negotiations to bring its popular series to Tuas International
Speedway in June next year.
The Japan GT Championship stars former Formula One drivers such
Ralph Firman (ex-Jordan in 2003) and Erik Comas (ex-Ligier and
Larousse in the early 1990s).
In a phone interview from Japan, Satoru Tsuyama, 52, Pacific-Rim
manager for JGTA, said: 'We are interested in bringing our
championship to Singapore next year, once the operator has the
track ready.
'Right now, Malaysia's Sepang circuit is the only international
race we have on our calendar.
'The Japan GT Championship has always been looking to go more
international and is the first Japanese series to do so.
'The Sepang race has points counted towards the overall
championship, so drivers take it seriously.
'But if Japan GT comes to Singapore next year, the race will
probably be an exhibition race at first.
'We need to see and assess how Singaporeans respond, and if
sponsors in Singapore are willing to back the event, before we make
it a permanent race with points counting towards the
championship.'
The Sepang leg of the Japan GT Championship started in 2000, but
was an exhibition race until 2002, when it became a permanent
points-scoring fixture in the nine-round annual championship. It is
held every June.
Tsuyama added: 'The crowd figures have been rising for Sepang. In
2004, there were about 25,000 fans. Last year, there were 38,000
fans, our highest so far in Sepang.'
20,000 SPECTATORS
Tuas International Speedway is expected to accommodate up to 20,000
spectators.
If the Japan GT race does come to Singapore, it would probably be
held a week after the Sepang race, to cut down on travel and
logistics.
The small Singaporean motor sports community is already abuzz with
anticipation.
And fingers are crossed as fans wait for Tuas International
Speedway to rev up to top speed in the next year.
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Motorsports park theme for Tuas circuit
A MOTORSPORTS park seems to be the main focus of Tuas International
Speedway, along with major races being held throughout the
year.
Apart from plans to bring in the Japan GT Championship race next
June, Singapore motorsports fans can enjoy a few other forms of
racing.
The race circuit in Tuas will also feature a 1.1km-long go-kart
track, built alongside the main track.
For years the Singapore motor sports community has been looking
forward to a permanent racetrack.
Go-karting is widely seen as the 'primary school of motor racing'
if Singapore is to develop a generation of racecar drivers.
And the business potential has already been acknowledged in
previous reports.
Defensive driving courses could also be on offer at the
track.
Motor enthusiasts will be able to tune up their cars at a variety
of specialist shops at the circuit.
And car companies can do tyre-testing and product-testing
there.
Even hiring the track for leisure racing will be possible.
This will mean Singapore car clubs and companies won't necessarily
travel to Malaysia's Sepang and Pasir Gudang circuits to satisfy
their thirst for speed.
Restaurants are expected to be built as part of the grandstand in a
clubhouse about four storeys high.
It will feature a lounge area, spa and a play area for
children.
