THE next time you go past Jurong Stadium, do not be surprised to hear sounds of skidding on tarmac as race cars compete in drifting.

The Straits Times understands that on Wednesday, the Singapore Motor Sports Association (SMSA) submitted a proposal to the Singapore Sports Council (SSC)to convert a stadium into a motor-sports arena.

When contacted yesterday, SMSA president Tan Teng Lip confirmed this."Yes, we have submitted a proposal to the SSC to convert a stadium," he said.

"But, at this stage, I can't reveal anything as it is still very preliminary.

It is still subject to approval from relevant authorities."

According to a source, the SMSA is looking at Jurong Stadium at Corporation Road.

The stadium is currently used by joggers and for the occasional football match.

Said SSC chief executive officer Oon Jin Teik: "We have shut down under-utilised swimming complexes for various undertakers to use.

"So, we've gone down that route before. We are definitely very open to proposals."

Local motor sports events are now mostly held at the National Stadium's carpark F.

These include car park rallies, super motard (dirt-bike sliding on road) and auto gymkhana (car-handling competitions based more on precision than speed).

But, with the pending demolition of the National Stadium to make way for the new Sports Hub, the SMSA has to look for an alternative venue.

Jurong Stadium, with its spectator gallery, is ideal.

Said the source: "The funding from the private sector - companies in the entertainment or recreation business - is all ready.

"The SMSA is just waiting to convert the stadium, which will not be expensive.It would cost less than $500,000."

Among the competitions that could be held there is the sport of drifting. Drifting is a highly skilled sport in which drivers power their cars in controlled sideway slides at high speeds through a marked course.

Drift racer Jansen Tan, 26, who competed in the professional drift series, D1Grand Prix Malaysia, last year, is looking forward to the arena.

He conducted four drift clinics for close to 100 people at a rented car park in Punggol Marina, but has since stopped due to the lack of space.

Jansen, who helps run a family business, said that a lot of people want to get into drifting but there is no place now for them to learn and play.