Tag Archives: Motorsports hub

		The proposal from Singapore Agro Agriculture. — PHOTO: SINGAPORE ANGRO AGRICULTURE

SLEEPY Changi could soon stage motorcycling’s equivalent of Formula One, have a race driving academy whose graduates include top F1 drivers, or be transformed into a family-friendly shopping and entertainment destination.

RELATED LINKS ONE SITE, THREE PROPOSALS

These tantalising features and more were dangled by the three groups bidding to develop the Changi Motorsports Hub, a facility crucial for Singapore to be an international motorsports destination, in separate presentations to the media yesterday.

The hub will be located on a 41ha site near Changi Airport and is expected to cost between $200 million and $300 million. It will be completed in late 2011.

Based on tender specifications, it will have a track that can host any race except F1, grandstands for at least 8,000 spectators, and car industry-related amenities.

Singapore Agro Agriculture’s (SAA) trump card is that it has clinched a deal to stage MotoGP at night – a coup which would see Singapore hosting the top tiers of both motorcycling and motor-racing under the stars.

‘That’s the jewel in our crown,’ said chief operating officer Jason Wong of SAA Holdings, the company behind food-and-retail hub Turf City.

Sports Services, backed by public-listed leisure and health-care products company Haw Par Corporation, emphasised its strong financial position.

This is a possible edge given the trouble in securing loans which is preventing another mega project, the $1.87billion Kallang Sports Hub, from getting started.

Haw Par executive director Chng Hwee Hong said: ‘We have a strong balance sheet and a reputation to uphold. Financing is not a main concern, what matters is the project’s long-term sustainability.’

Subscription fees from a 3,000-member MotorSports Country Club will help defray the hub’s capital and operating costs. Members will have free use of the 4.2km track – good enough to be an F1-test venue – and the right to rent bonded garage space.

The internationally-renowned and United States-based Jim Russell driving academy – graduates include current F1 championship leader Jenson Button – will be another draw.

Track designer Hermann Tilke, who drew up the Marina Bay F1 circuit, also told the Sports Services consortium recently that MotoGP promoters were keen for a tie-up if it won the bid.

SG Changi, fronted by Jurong Kart World, is banking on facilities that will provide entertainment for a wider crowd than just racing enthusiasts.

‘Most race tracks are a men-only venue but we want to sell ourselves as a family and tourist destination,’ said Mr Norman Simon, managing director of norman2, the firm which is marketing the bid.

Video arcades, a 120-room three-star hotel, a museum and beach activities are part of its proposal.

Five criteria will be used in evaluating bids: Ability to position the hub as the preferred venue for international motorsports events (40 per cent); contribution towards developing a centre of excellence for motorsports training and education (20 per cent); financial and business sustainability (20 per cent); contribution towards developing the local motorsports ecosystem (10 per cent), and attractiveness of commercial mix and events (10 per cent).

The winner will be announced in the first quarter of next year.

Source : Straits Times – 8 Sep 2009