Last year there were murmurings that Singapore was looking to ditch its Grand Prix as it has served it’s purpose of bringing exposure to the country. Then again, those rumours came from Bernie Ecclestone, and he always liked to stir things up a bit in the media.
Thankfully those rumours have now been put to bed following the announcement that the night race will remain on the calendar until at least 2021.
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, said he was happy to extend the deal as the race provided a huge boost to the area.
“The F1 Singapore Grand Prix has generated significant benefits for our economy as well as the Formula 1 franchise. With its global viewership and media coverage, the race has reinforced Singapore’s image as a vibrant and innovative city to a wide international audience. It has also created good opportunities for Singaporeans and the local business community.
F1 chairman Chase Carey was also pleased with the new deal, saying:
“The Singapore Grand Prix is a signature Formula 1 race and therefore we are very pleased that it will continue to feature on the calendar for a further four years. The first ever night race in this sport is one of the most thrilling events of the year, taking place against the stunning backdrop of Marina Bay.
“The Singapore Grand Prix, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Government have all done an excellent job of making this an event that involves the whole city. We are looking forward to offering our continued support to make the next four years even more spectacular and exciting.”
It’s great to see that the Singapore Grand Prix will continue to be a part of the F1 calendar. In just 10 years it’s established itself as one of the stand-out races on the calendar; it’s a unique and challenging event which has often produced exciting races.
