Race Preview: Singapore Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton at Singapore GPStreet circuit with 23 corners.Night race that needs 3,180,000 watts of power to light up the tracks. Singapore Grand Prix is upon us this weekend. Let me hear you RAWR!

In many ways similar to the Monaco Grand Prix, this 61-lap race is famous for its winding street corners, so winding are these corners, in fact, that the Singapore's Marina Bay Street Circuit has some of the slowest average speed in the F1 calendar. The track (aka the streets) are lit up to the point that it is four times brighter than the lights at a football stadium. Slower speed plus brightly-lit tracks means we see the racing actions clearer than usual as the race cars hustle through the streets of Singapore with a gorgeous city skyline as backdrop.

For this track, Pirelli decided that Soft and Supersoft are the optimal tyres to use, which makes sense considering the conditions of this track. I wonder how the teams will play out their tyres strategy, one-stop may be a very tall ask on this track with the number of laps needed.

As if he needs any more luck on his side, Alonso has won twice at this track previously while Vettel and Hamilton both have won once here. Will Alonso keep up his lead in the championship or will Raikkonen surge ahead to number two spot in the championship, thus closing in the gap to Alonso? Will Hamilton be able to focus and win another top spot on the podium while his future for 2013 is still "under negotiation" with McLaren and/or Mercedes? However this may go down, I'll be glued to the monitor this weekend for the Singapore GP actions!

The race this weekend aside, are there any gamers out there who have played F1 video games? I  happened upon a Gamespot video that documented the history of F1 video games. From the hay days with little groups of pixels moving on screen to the real-life-looking simulations that makes you feel like you're on a track driving that Red Bull, it was fascinating to see the evolution of the game and hear from the passionate F1 fans behind building these games. Check out the video below. 

Join Us for a Free Motorsports Networking Event

Star Bar - 600 W. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Join The Austin Grand Prix at Star Bar on Thursday, September 20 to experience the grand prix lifestyle and learn about Formula 1™. Enjoy an evening of networking and education at one of Austin's most stylish venues on West 6th Street as DNA Events transforms Star Bar with high-speed hospitality, with light bites provided by How Do You Roll? Sushi.

We will present an informational piece on what you need to know about F1 so that you'll be ready to watch the Singapore Grand Prix on SPEED TV on Sunday, September 23. 

Austin-based US Star Events and TicketCity will be on hand to showcase Paddock Club and VIP Experiences and Grandstand and General Admission ticket options.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE INVITATION AND TO RSVP!

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Whether you are just learning about F1 or a long time racing fan, this will be a great opportunity to meet others in anticipation of the United States Grand Prix in Austin this November!

Event partners: US Star EventsTicketCityDNA EventsStar BarPremiere Party CentralComplete MusicHow Do You Roll?

If you would like more information or have questions, email Events[at]TheAustinGrandPrix.com

Formula One: Random Ramblings for the Final Points Haul

Sebastian Vettel is working hard to hold up his reputation in the 2012 season (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Dale Daugherty wrote previously for The Austin Grand Prix, in his article about making the most of your USGP vacation. As a big Formula 1 fan, Dale is particularly excited about the championship season and the possibility of the USGP deciding the 2012 season winner. In this piece, he takes a look at Sebastian Vettel and his opportunity to take the 2012 Champsionship title from Fernando Alonso.

I make no secret that Sebastian Vettel is my favorite driver on the Formula One grid. What can I say… the kid can drive! Until the United States can field a driver that is a consistent points fighter, this will always be the case. I have no national pride to rally behind, so the double World Champion gets my support.

Raffles and a History Of Derring-Do: Singapore GP Preview

 

// Singapore GP

It is consummately simple to think about the Singapore Grand Prix as being a modern race, the first to be run under floodlights, on a new circuit, around a prestigious harbour development. Yet, prior to gaining its independence, in 1963, the original 1961 ‘Orient Year Grand Prix’, which was renamed ‘Malaysian GP’ was run on the Old Thomson Road route around Singapore, much like similar city center racing venues in Berlin, Germany, and Barcelona, Spain.

 

New FIA Series Driven by Electric Power

The electric KERS system for Formula 1 may prove to ignite a new wave of motorsports (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

In late August the FIA announced a new championship series to be powered by 100% electric energy.  Called Formula E, it aims to demonstrate the need for alternatively-powered cars, an idea that has become the motor industry’s collective vision for automobiles of the future.  The series promoter, Formula E Holdings (FEH), is a conglomerate of entrepreneurs, former racing bosses, and other auto industry professionals.

From "Guten Tag" To GO

KUT, one of the top public radio stations in the country and Austin's local affiliate of National Public Radio (NPR), has released a neat video of Circuit of The Americas like you have never seen (or heard) before.

They interviewed Alessandro Tassisto, Architect, and Oliver Liedgens, Civil Engineer, two essential Tilke GmbH & Co. team members that have been working on the Texas circuit for years. The video is captivating because we get to view it through the eyes of the men who have arguably developed the deepest understanding of the complex project. They have had to analyze everything from soil constraints to climate, interpret racing corners and driving sequences, and they narrate the video in their native German tongue (subtitles provided).

At about one minute into the video, Oliver takes to Turn 1:

We are standing at the starting line where, on November 18, 24 racecars will take their positions.

That will be a real challenge given the 15 percent incline here.

It's like you are shooting into the sky, because you don't know what's happening behind turn one.

The viewer gets the sense that they are behind the wheel as Oliver maneuvers a contruction off-road vehicle around the nearly complete circuit. The fresh layers of pavement have been laid, the gantry is in place and the FIA safety fence looks to be complete.

A great behind the scenes preview that we hope will have Michael Schumacher, Sebastien Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock, Nico Hulkenberg and others exclaiming: "Ausgezeichnet!"