THE countdown has already started for next year's Formula One Singapore Grand Prix - as far as fans and hotels are concerned.
Earlier this week, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) released a revised calendar for the 2009 season, confirming Sept 27 as the date for the second Singapore night race.
The news has led to some fans scrambling to book their annual leave dates next year.
'If I want to watch the Friday practice sessions and party after the Sunday race, it is good to take leave,' said civil servant M. Rajakrishnan, 32. 'I couldn't take leave for this year's race and I don't want to make the same mistake again.'
Trackside hotels like Mandarin Oriental have started to receive enquiries for next year's showpiece.
Many of the phone calls were from guests who stayed at the hotel during last month's race and are keen to return.
Said a hotel spokesman: 'We have had many phone calls from both local and overseas fans. Most of them are corporate clients and were our guests during the race weekend.'
The Mandarin Oriental, which was 80 per cent full during the race weekend, says it is 'in discussions' to finalise its 2009 F1 room rates.
Those who prefer a close-up view of the action will not have to wait too long to get their hands on next year's race tickets.
Race promoter Singapore GP estimates that the coveted passes will be sold sometime in the first quarter of 2009.
Said a Singapore GP spokesman: 'We are looking at all aspects of ticketing and will make that decision by the end of next month.'
While Singapore has retained its end-September race date, its slot in the 2009 calendar has been bumped up.
Newcomer Abu Dhabi will now host the season-ender, making Singapore the fifth-last stop of the season. This year, the Republic was the fourth-last race.
Despite the change, the organisers are confident that the Singapore Grand Prix will remain pivotal in the race for next season's championships.
'The date positioning is more or less in line with what we wanted our position to be each year, and we expect to be at the start of the last quarter of the race season each year within a variation of a race or two,' said the Singapore GP spokesman.
'We are happy and feel that it allows us to stage the event with a good chance that the championship winner will not already be a fait accompli.'
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 11, 2008.
