SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
26.27.28 SEPTEMBER 2008
MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT

So it's finally the end of a very gruelling 4 day event and possibly nearing the end of my 2-month stint with Singapore GP. Honestly, I don't think I've ever worked so hard in my whole life the last 4 days. Work starts at 8am with breakfast at the hotel and I only get back to my room at 2am, sometimes even later. In fact, I'm considered very fortunate - others would be lucky if they even get any sleep these few nights. It's like after everything, you just feel so physically and mentally drained out, you don't wanna do anything but just lie in bed and do nothing.

But of course, it has been an unforgettable adventure, being part of the world's first ever night race (not if you're a Ferrari fan though) and being armed with only my 3.2px camera phone, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

DAY 1
25 SEPTEMBER 2008
PRE-RACE EVENT/SITE INSPECTION

Thursday was the first day my department moved to the site office beside Singapore Flyer where we'll be working for the whole event. 5 of us sharing a puny room:











A very obvious sign:




These were a sign of things to come: a bathing toilet and a box of twisties to tide us through the busy period





James and Rashita from accrediation team



My room at Marina Mandarin that I bunked with 2 other colleagues. Didn't get much time to enjoy lazing in the room cos we hardly even slept at all.



The car at the hotel lobby



DAY 2
26 SEPTEMBER 2008
FORMULA ONE - PRACTICE SESSION

Friday was the first day of the event, and crowds didn't come as much as expected. The ticket sales for this day weren't as brisk as the next 2 and it was widely expected since it only a practice session.

My duty for the morning and afternoon was at Marina Mandarin where I manned the ticketing booth for last minute corporate sales.





I rememebered feeling extremely exhausted but everything changed in an instant when I flipped open the last page of LIFE! and bounced up and down after reading this:



KYLIE MINOGUE IS COMING!!!

LIKE OH MY BIGGEST DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!! SHE'S FINALLY COMING PEOPLE!! CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW LONG I'VE WAITED ALL MY LIFE TO SEE YOU AND IT'S GONNA BE A REALITY!! I'M SO GONNA BE THE FIRST PERSON AT SISTIC THIS FRIDAY AND COME NOVEMBER 25TH AT THE INDOOR STADIUM, I'M GONNA DRESS UP AS A DRAG AND SING EVERY SINGLE LINE OF ALL YOUR SONGS AND YOU'RE BETTER INVITE ME ON STAGE TO DUET WITH YOU!!

IT'S IN YOUR EYEEES..
I CAN TELL WHAT YOU'RE THINKING
MY HEART IS SINKING TOO
IT'S NO SURPRISEEEE...
I'VE BEEN WATCHING YOU LATELY
I WANNA MAKE IT WITH YOU
IT'S IN YOUR EYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEESSS.........

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean I'm sorry, I'm hyperventilating just writing this! Can't imagine if it's gonna be sold out, like Jay chou was sold out after just 3 days and I had to buy the tckets on Facebook?

NONONO IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN I'M GONNA BREAK MY BANK ACCOUNT FOR YOU KYLIE.

Ok I've digressed too much.

Back to my ticket sales, there was actually this rich guy who bought 2 tickets for a grand total of $16,000 and he paid me in CASH.

COLD HARD CASH.

Like excuse me sir, credit cards and cheque books were invented for fun or what??

When he gave me the wad of cash, it was like a scene from Mamma Mia movie, where they did 'Money Money Money'. Yeah maybe I should have filmed it there and then, throwing the cash all over and singing

Money money money
Must be funny
It's a rich man's world!


Caught some action at Singapore Flyer:





and after that it was straight to the circuit for Singapore's first taste of burnt rubber and deafening noises.











Supper at the ING-Renault suite:



This young kid thinks he is the future Alonso. Trying out the Renault car and speeding all the way. LOL.



DAY 3
27 SEPTEMBER 2008
FORMULA ONE RACE - QUALIFYING SESSION

Corporate sales were improving the next day, perhaps because roars could be heard all around the vicinity and today's qualifying session would be very crucial in determining the race winner (or so it seems)

Nelson Piquet made an appearance at the ING-Renault









The end result was of course largely predictable with Massa, Hamilton and Kimi taking the first 3 slots on the grid, prompting reports to state that it could be a very dull affair on Sunday.

Somehow, though, I did had a tingling feeling that a dark horse could steal it, judging by the fact that there was still a possibility of rain that could throw a spanner in the works and also the gruelling 61 laps that would require more than just a pole position finish.

At the end of the qualifiers, I had the opportunity to buggy around the race track running errands like fetching guests and staff to the taxi stands.













When I went back to pit building, off went Massa and so I managed to snap a pic with him, turned out very blur though.



He was in a rush so couldn't bother him for a second one, and out in the carpark there was yet another bunch of crazy Massa fans as well.

Although I'm not a Mssa fan, I thought that this could be a priceless photo with the first ever winner of a night race, but it turned out otherwise.

Check out the mob after Massa's car:





Met his unofficial fan club from Brazil



I tell you, they were the craziest bunch of fans ever. They have this Massa dance that they conceived out of nothing, which is basically a sideways crab walk with pincer movements and they will chant Massa! Massa! Massa! The whole crowd of us was laughing uncontrollably!

Although I didn't think the crab dance was in motion after yesterday's race.

They should sing this (in the tune of 'Money Money Money')

Massa Massa Massa
It's not funny
When you fuel your car

Massa Massa Massa
It's not sunny
You are way off par


OUCH!!!!!

DAY 4
28 SEPTEMBER 2008
FORMULA ONE - SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX
MARINA BAY STREET CIRCUIT

D-day had arrived, and preparations for the large crowd were in full swing.





I plonked myself in the suite at Turn 3, as with other colleagues who went around finding their favoured spot to catch the race. I like this area because it is where drivers attack the first 3 bends right after the start/finish line and while I don't get to see the pits, the view here is equally stunning when the cars manoeuvre.

The grid formation



And the red lights go off!







Caught this off the TV: first action of the night sees Piquet straight into the barricades.



And shortly after, we already know by now what happened to Massa:



And Alonso takes the chequered flag.

I'm definitely no F1 buff, but my take on the race? It was decided by the safety cars. When they came in 2-3 times, it interrupted the momentum for the leaders and it might have proved costly. Massa's mistake was like a veteran goalkeeper error; it will happen at some point of your career and there's nothing you can do about it. Hamilton was extremely disappointing the whole night and it partly came from his comments after qualifiers that there was no chance of overtaking, meaning he played the safe and largely ineffective game. Obviously, that wasn't the key for this street circuit. Kimi Raikkonen, as usual, resembled a strong soccer team that becomes too complacent after taking the lead and throws the game away in the dying minutes. It's one time too many for Kimi.

I would have liked to see a bit of rain as well, just to see how well it complements the new street lights and create a more exciting race, but the weatherman was right after all.

With celebrations all around the ING-Renault suite, the organisers had our own party in the Paddock Club lifestyle area and for my department, at least, it really signifies the end of a gruelling month of pushing sales and making our bottom line.















And then, came the utterly wild side of everyone, where we partied the night away with free flow champagne from our sponsors, Mumm Champagne.

Everyone was given a bottle and I actually down half a bottle in typical vodka-maniac style and that was really enough to knock me out cold. To make matters worse, I decided to sneak into the unattended bar and grab some juice to calm myself down, only to down another few glasses, unaware that these had already been mixed with some hard liquor.

Check out the stupid things we did.























And that's about it guys!

It's been great being part of this and I don't know whether I'll be around to experience it all over again next year, but right now, it's sleep, sleep, sleep, and definitely, MAMBO ON WEDNESDAY!