Singapore To Host FI Race

Mokhzani: Street circuit will not affect us

SINGAPORE: Singapore has won a five-year deal to host a Formula One race on a street circuit starting next year, and hopes to break new ground by staging the first Grand Prix night race, a government minister said yesterday.

The race could be held in September or early October 2008, and the city-state has the option to extend the deal for another five years.

"Singapore could potentially stage the first ever night race. It would be unique, different, and allow the Singapore event to reach out to television audiences in Asia, Europe and even the US," said S. lswaran, Minister of State for Trade and Industry.

Meanwhile, Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit said in Kuala Lumpur that Malaysia's F1 Grand Prix will not be affected by Singapore winning the right to host a race.

“I congratulate Singapore on joining the club of F1 hosts. Next year will be their first year and it will be our tenth," said Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, chairman of the Sepang International Circuit.

"The people in South-east Asia will have a chance to see both now, a city street circuit and ours, which is a race circuit, so it will be interesting," he said.

Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said last month said there should only be one F1 race in South-east Asia, but Mokhzani said the development would promote the sport.

"It will not affect F1 in Malaysia, instead it will promote F1 in the region," said Mokhzani.

"Theirs ... will be towards the end of the year and ours will be at the beginning, so we will get to see how the season starts and ends," he added.

Last month Mokhzani announced that Malaysia had won the right to host Formula One races until 2015. - AFP