2008 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix Ticket Sales Hit the 95% Mark

Ticket sales for the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix continues to be brisk as the countdown clock hits the 40-Day mark.

"More than 95% of the tickets have already been sold, with 40,000 of the 100,000 tickets available per day, or 40%, sold to purchasers outside of Singapore,'' said Mr Teo Hock Seng, chairman of Singapore GP Pte Ltd, promoter of the world's inaugural night Formula One race. "Over the three day event over 300,000 spectators will get to enjoy this unique race".

The strong sales performanceis impressive, given that Singapore GP initially planned only 70,000 tickets when launched in February 2008. Though this number was subsequently increased to over 100,000 in the last few months, less than 5% of tickets are still available.

Formula 1 Preview - Singapore Grand Prix

Into the 14th round of the 2009 Formula 1 Grand Prix season, we take a look at what the drivers think of their upcoming race in Singapore this weekend.

McLaren Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton: "Last year’s inaugural Singapore Grand Prix was a real example of how to host a new Formula 1 race - fantastic facilities, slick organisation and a unique and interesting track that was not only fun and demanding but also really forced you to push to the limit and take a few risks to get the best from the car. I remember my race in Singapore last year was all about damage limitation - I was driving with one eye on the world championship and wasn’t going to take too many risks. I was happy to finish on the podium. This year, it’s very different - I know I’m out of the title hunt and I want to attack these last four races, pushing for as many victories as I can."

Heikki Kovalainen: "We really seem to have discovered the sweet-spot of this year’s car. I’ve had points finished in every race since the Nurburgring, and we’ve got some interesting new upgrades in the systems that are planned for the Singapore race. Of course, racing at night is what really makes this event unique, but the lighting system is so fantastic that you tend to forget that you are even racing in the dark! Singapore is the sort of circuit that should suit our package - there are lots of slower corners and we’ll be able to use KERS to our advantage. Overall, the city is also a fantastic backdrop to what has already become one of the best circuits on the Formula 1 calendar."

Car Articles Useful Performance Car Of The Year 2011

Some cars are not just made of their power and prestige, they also represent a lineage of expert design, passion and expert engineering. The new 2011 BMW M5 is just such a car and I have decided this year to award it with the inaugural Car Articles Useful Performance Car Of The Year award.

This is the fifth generation of a car that is world renowned for offering space, comfort and simply brutal rear wheel drive performance. It is the most powerful series production car for BMW and one of the most able rear wheel drive machines currently on the road.

This new car features a turbocharged power unit – a high-revving 4.4-litre (4,395cc) V8, making its world premiere. Developing 560hp from 5,750-7,000rpm, it is the most potent series-production engine ever to emerge from BMW’s high-performance M division and provides thrills like few other saloons can provide. It’s mated to a seven speed double clutch gearbox with the ubiquitous flappy paddles.

Packed with all manner electronic gubbins including a Head-up Display, DAB digital radio, front and rear Park Distance Control, four-zone air-conditioning, Xenon headlights, Adaptive Headlights and front seat heating it’s extremely well equipped.

Ultimately, if you need to ferry around four people in style (and notably with exceptional speed), you will not go wrong at all with the mighty BMW M5 2011 edition. The fact that it can then easily transition to an extreme track day machine makes it perhaps one of the ultimate cars on the road today.

Car Articles Hypercar Of The Year 2011

This is the Lamborghini Aventador and it is the winner of the Car Articles Hypercar Of The Year 2011 award. Why? It sold out after announcement for 12 months, it’s a two door, two seater raging bull that has a price tag of over £200,000. Oh, and it runs to a top speed of around 220 miles per hour. Fast much? Well of course that’s a staggering figure, though the 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds is even better.

The Aventador has a carbon fibre monocoque which is similar in construction to a formula 1 car. This provides a very rigid, very safe frame around which to bolt on everything else and to cocoon the driver in. Pushrod suspension ensures inch perfect travel. A 6.5 litre V12 powers this futuristic vision and offers up a simply staggering almost 700 horsepower and the same for torques.

Well done to Lamborghini for producing such a formidable machine that is the Aventador. It is a true Italian work of art.

Singapore GP reports brisk ticket sales for fifth night race

Singapore GP has announced that over 50% of tickets to the world's only Formula One night race have been sold to date.

With slightly over 100 days to the fifth SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, the organisers have announced over 50% of the general tickets to the only night race in the world has been sold. The race will be held from the 21st to the 23rd September, and already the three day Zone 4 walkabout tickets, Turn 1 grandstand as well as the Turn 1 combination - the Padang, Bay and Turn 1 grandstands over the race weekend are now sold out. The bay combination – comprising Turn 1, Padang, and Bay grandstands ticket category is also running low.

The lavish 10,000-capacity hospitality suites with layout improvements, updated decor and menus are always a highlight of the race, besides the race themselves. Sales for the Formula One Paddock Club, Green Room, dedicated Sky Suites and the Club Suites opposite the team garages are also in strong demand.