Singapore Grand Prix: A Bore War To Come?

When it was announced that two new street circuits would be added to the 2008 F1 calendar, I was somewhat taken aback in horror!

The Monaco Grand Prix, around the illustrious streets of Monte Carlo, has proven to be the highlight of many a season, though mainly for the build up and the glamour. However, the race, more often than not, never lives up to the hype.

The question with the addition of two new street circuits (Valencia and Signapore) was whether they could provide more entertaining races.

Valencia has proven to be a distant memory as we head into the night race of Singapore tomorrow (Sunday 28th September). It wasn’t that the European Grand Prix was boring, it was just uneventful.

Many have even argued that its title of "street circuit" was a big cause for debate, as wide surfaces gave it more the feel of a European Montreal rather than a second rate Monte Carlo.

The warning signs for race day at Singapore are evident from what we already know. The track is tight (like Monaco), overtaking is expected to be minimal (like Monaco), and generally would desperately need some form of interference beyond the drivers control to entice a spectacular series of events, (again, like Monaco!)

One part of me actually pleads for a dry race day, as opposed to the expected downpours, just so we can be given a proper glimpse of future possibilities; something that would lead us to empathize with the track, something that would lead us to wildly anticipate the follow up in 2009.

Still a wet race could promote a positive ethos of the track and allow spectators to warm up to the uniqueness that was the first night race.

A positive ethos can always be created in F1, depending on the right circumstances;  Sao Paolo in 2003 comes to mind as an example, in which the race heavily benefited from a dramatic close to the proceedings and in return gave it a headlining position on the racing calendar.

Hopefully, at a big ask, the first ever night race in Singapore won’t be the procession of cars that we all expect for the duration of the race. Maybe, just maybe, it will create a new era in F1, and gain the sport a collection of new fans enlightened by a spectacle unheard of until now.