complicated simplicity

Here in Singapore, the F1 hype is pretty much all over the place. Here, there, everywhere. Lewis H. donning his Hugo Boss parading around. But I asked myself, is it just us playing it up? Does the rest of the world even CARE about the world first’s night race?

So I decided to look for more independent sources, and have a look around the world for any hype. Looks like it wasn’t vapor after all.

Andrew Benson of BBC did a pretty in-depth and current article on the upcoming night race in Singapore. This was featured article which front page coverage on the Sports page. [link: BBC]

To be staged on a new circuit around the streets of the Asian city state, it promises to be the most spectacular Grand Prix of a gripping season.

The track winds through the heart of one of the world’s most striking cities and passes some of its famous landmarks, including the Raffles hotel, an icon of the British colonial era.

 I couldn’t find anything on CNN.com, but F1 is much more popular in Europe than it is in America.

Jonathan Noble of Autosport News had another article which was starting show the world Singapore’s track [link: AutoSport].

In life, it is something great to be proven wrong. I could not help but think about that on Wednesday evening in Singapore as I walked around the new Marina Bay circuit, revelling in some early signs that Formula One’s first night race in going to a cracker.

I must confess that (as those who have listened to this week’s Autosport podcast will already know) I was very skeptical about the chances of Singapore being a hit when I picked up my bags and headed off to Heathrow Airport on Tuesday.

With 2 of the sport’s top portals giving frontal coverage, it is believable that this is not just another Singapore media illusion.