Singapore Grand Prix 2010 - Race Day

After visiting the Lotus F1 Team pit area on the second day. Finally, the Race Day has arrived. Since the race only starts at 8pm, so I didn't follow the group to go to the circuit at around 3pm. I went to have tea with my sister, bro-in-law, my mother and niece and nephew. Went to a place called Fruit Paradise Cafe in Raffles City Mall to eat their big fruit tarts.

Here's a teaser of the fruit tart. Full post later on. Now we concentrate on the Singapore Grand Prix 2010 Race Day.

Strawberry Chocolate Tart

I reached Gate 1 around 6.30 pm because I wanted to catch Sean Kingston performing. I saw a long queue waiting there at the Tattoo tent. Free temporary tattoo attracts the crowd lol.

Sean Kingston supposed to start at 7pm but all the sound checks and what not delayed the opening until 7.30pm. The Pit Grandstand where I will be watching the race isn't exactly near

Sean Kingston's official DJ.

Sean Kingston entertaining the crowd with his song.

Race almost starting and there's still quite a crowd watching him.

I was only able to listen to one song and then I have to rush to the Pit Grandstand because left only 10 minutes before the Formula 1 race will start. When I reached my seats on the Pit Grandstand the Formula 1 cars already at position. The pit crew are all out there doing final adjustments.

Our group all put up the Maxis Lotus F1 Polo T-shirt to show our support.

The Pit Grandstand is filled with people. Quite a view as compared to the two previous practice day where the seats were not even half filled.

And they are off! The crowd at the Grandstand all stand up and cheer. Okay. It's just the track testing round.

After 1 testing round around the circuit, all the cars are back into position. I think it took all the cars less than 2 minutes to get back to the starting point. Damn fast.

Once again, they're off and this time is the real thing. Alonso from Ferrari who is in pole position took the lead from the start.

We can only see the cars for like less than 5 seconds when they passed through. So we rely on the big screen in front of us to catch the rest of the actions.

This Singapore Grand Prix is filled with excitement from the start. One team already have enginge problem just 3 laps from the start and have to pull out. Safety car have to be activated because the F1 car stalled at the side of the track.

Not long after that Kobayashi (Team Sauber) crached is car into the side of a corner and another car ramped into it's rear. Both were out off the race. Safety car is out for another round.

Before I left the grandstand at about Lap 31 adn 32, we all saw how Lewis Hamilton try to overtake Mark Webber during a cornering and Hamilton hit Mark Webber's rear right tire and lost control and hit straight to the side. He took off the steering wheel and throw it off to the ground. He must be damn frustrated lol. But all the audience from the Pit Grandstand laugh and were so happy. Red Bulls fans a lot there wei.

Sad thing is that Heikki's (Team Lotus) car caught on fire in the engine two laps before the chequered flag. Lucky he's considered completed the race, unlike poor old Hamilton.

Actions from the Lotus F1 Team pit

The reason I left halfway is because I have to rush to Zone 4 which is quite far from Zone 1 where the Pit Granstand is to catch Pop Diva Mariah Carey. I reached the Padang Stage at 10.30 pm. Mariah Carey supposed to starts at 10.30 pm. As always, no concert will starts on time. Especially a Diva's concert.

All the nice spots were taken. I have to stand quite far back.

When I saw Mariah Carey on the big screen. OMG! What happened to her? She's really huge. Not only that. She started panting just after the first song. She will sings two song then go backstage for like 10 minutes and come back for another two songs and go backstage. She nearly fell down if not for her dancers that caught her during the 3rd song. Good thing is she still can do her Dolphin high notes.

Honestly, if I have to pay to watch Mariah Carey concert, I won't forked out that money lor.

I left Mariah Carey after she sang One Sweet Day with her long time friend whom is also the backup singer for that night. The backup singers really did a great job in backing her up at times where she has to take a breath between verse.

With that below expectation concert, marked the end of Singapore Grand Prix 2010. FIA is happy with Singapore organizing thie Grand Prix and wanted Singapore to continue for another 20 years but Singapore Government need to study the cost and benefit first before renewing their 5 years contract.

3 Splendid Days of fun and excitement.

Thank you Maxis and Lotus Racing Team for this trip, especially those that took care of us during the stay.

Great job guys!

Singapore Grand Prix 2010 - Visiting Team Lotus F1 Pit

In my previous post, I mentioned that we might have the chance to visit the pit area of Team Lotus F1. According to Von, it will all depends on the weather on whether we are going to visit the pit area. Thank god when we are about to depart the rain has stopped and we got confirmation.

We will have to go to Gate 2 to get to the Pit.

Security check.

Oh. On the second day, we were given the Lotus F1 Maxis cap and also knapsack. Nice. We have to walk a bit to get to the pit area after checking in into Gate2. On the way we saw the Porsche Carrera Cup is going on. Found out it's just a practice round later.

This Porsche came in 2nd in the race.

There are a lot of overhead pass linking from one place to another in the circuit.

It's J & J again. LOL.

Follow the Maxis sign and you won't get lost.

What, why we came to the Paddock Club?

Of course, we didn't get lost because the paddock is above the garage and pit. We're going to visit the garage and the pit. It's another round of checking to go in.

There's limited passes to going all at one time to visit the garage and pit. So, each time only 4 people are able to going at any one time. So, each group of four will take 10 minutes to visit and then pass the passes to another group of four.

While waiting, we of course take pictures.

That's Jackie's hand

Let me in!

A pic with the friendly and helpful peeps from Lotus Racing

Okay, let's fast forward. Jessica, Jackie and I were the last group to go in.

We were told that we can take any picture except for the picture of the engine and gearbox due to FIA regulations.

Once I stepped into the garage, I was greeted by many headphones.

During a Grand Prix, the pit crew literally make the garage their home. The are busy modifying the F1 race car based on the data collected during the practice rounds.

One would have guess that these are for fueling.

18 for Jarno Trulli

And 19 for Heikki Kovalainen

These two gentlemen are important people.

This is how the sit looks like.

This is how the pit looks like from this side.

Opposite is where we'll be sitting, the Pit Grandstand.

This is where the race car will exit after making a pit stop.

Communication with the drivers and accurate data collecting is crucial.

Each team has their own dining area. Too bad we don't have time to take a quick bite there :p

Different tires are used depending on the condition of the track.

The LR8 is the energy drink for the Lotus F1 Team. Different concoction for different kind of weather?

Ah, visiting the garage and pit area is such a once in a life time experience. Not every time one can easily visit the pit of a Formula One racing team.

After the visit, it's back to the Pit Grandstand. The Porsche Carrera Cup is about to start. Grid girls on standby, and wait, and wait and....

Yawn...when are they going to come the Porsches.

Alas, there they are, the racers and cars. Pity those grid girls posing and holding the sign in the same position for about 30 minutes I think.

The Porsche Carrera Cup is a very short race which only last about 30 minutes doing 12 laps on the circuit. Still nothing beats watching the Formula One cars racing neck to neck during the Race Day on Sunday. More on that soon.