EXPECT to pay concert-ticket prices for passes to the FormulaOne SingTel Singapore Grand Prix (GP) next September.

The three-day general grandstand pass from 26 to 28 Sep - which covers the qualifying races and main race - will start from $275, the Singapore GP, the race promoter, revealed.

This is just one of the ticket pricings for the three-day pass, which will go on sale in late December at singaporegp.sg.

The $275 package works out to $91.70 for each race day.

The most expensive three-day pass will set you back by $7,500 at the exclusive Formula One Paddock Club.

This is even pricier than the $2,458 three-day ticket to Hotel Mirabeau terrace during the Monaco GP next May.

The Paddock Club is located at the Pit Building - next to the Singapore Flyer - which is the start and finish point of the race.

Besides a prime track-side view from there, expect gourmet dinners and champagne parties.

A Singapore GP spokesman told The New Paper on Sunday: 'The three-day pass will include a separate ticket for each race day. It can be used by three different people over three days.

'But the tickets are not transferable on the same day.'

The race promoter is unable to confirm the track-side locations of the general grandstand seating as it is still in the planning stages.

Singapore GP did not reveal the actual rates of the single-day race passes, which will go on sale during the second week of February.

The number of passes available will depend on the sale of the three-day passes in December and January.

The Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore GP aim to draw 80,000 to each race day.

The race can cost up to $150 million to stage annually.

The ticket pricing for the three-day pass drew a mixed response from F1 fans.

Most, like Mr Raymond Sng, 43, a businessman, said it is affordable.

He explained: 'We are watching the first night race in F1 history. The street circuit in Singapore is Asia's first. Besides, you can split the cost of the pass among three people.'

Agreeing with him was Mr Dalvindar Singh, 38, a corporate banker, who said: 'The F1 is a premier race and I expected the ticket to cost at least $400. The starting price of $275 for the pass is reasonable as this is a multi-million dollar event.'

Still, the $275 three-day pass is cheaper than the starting price of a similar one to Monaco and Valencia F1 races. Both are street circuits.

At Monaco, the price starts from $616 at www.monaco-grand-prix.com.

A three-day ticket to Valencia's inaugural race is tentatively priced at $725 at gptours.com.

F1 fans who find the Singapore pass pricey include Mr Adrian Wei, 28, a sales manager.

He groused: 'I will not pay more than $200 for a three-day pass. Besides, I am only keen on the main race.'