WHILE all eyes will be on Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen and challenger Lewis Hamilton when the inaugural SingTel Singapore Grand Prix roars to life on Sept 28 next year, a group of local aces will be sharing the limelight in two of the three supporting races.

Ringo Chong, 41, and Mok Weng Sun, 40, will be among five locals lined up for the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia - a one-make race featuring 420-horsepower cars based on the 911 GT3.

The Carrera Cup will be joined by another one-make series: the Aston Martin Asia Cup - using 410-horsepower racers based on the Aston Martin Vantage N24.

The third support race is the Formula BMW, which uses 140-horsepower one-seater open-wheel cars.

Student Mohammad Nasri Naufal, 19, a former champion go-karter, is expected to be in the BMW line-up.

These adrenalin-charged races are the first confirmed SingTel Singapore GP supporting events.

For racing ace Chong, the chance to drive at an F1 event at home holds special meaning.

The advanced-driver trainer and track designer was seven when his dad, the late Chong Boon Seng, came in second in the Sports & GT segment of the 1973 Singapore Grand Prix.

"I cried when I heard it was the last race because I wanted dad to race the following year and win.''

Chong, who will be driving a China-sponsored Group A car, said: "I've waited 34 years for this chance.''

Mok, the reigning champion in Group B (made up mainly of businessmen who buy their own race cars), said: "I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be an incredible street circuit.''

The fund manager raced in the Macau GP - a street race - last month.

He said that "it's totally different'' from a purpose-built track.

It is understood that the other Singaporeans lined up for the Carrera Cup include Melvin Choo, David Lai and Gregory Teo. There will be drivers from China, too.

Porsche Asia Pacific's managing director Christer Ekberg said: "It will be the most international Carrera Cup ever.''

The Formula BMW is a series the German manufacturer started to groom professional racers.

Nasri said that he is "excited to have the opportunity to race on my home ground''.

Aston Martin Asia Cup is also said to be scouting for local drivers. The company, however, was unreachable for comment yesterday.