SMSA organised first-ever legitimate drag race in Singapore
The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, which ran from 16 September to 18 September with great fanfare, wasn’t the only heart-stomping racing event that got motoring enthusiasts excited. The inaugural 2016 President’s Challenge Charity Sprint, Singapore’s first-ever supercar drag race, injected another atmosphere of exhilaration into the local automobile community in the heart of Marina Bay, pushing the rubber-burning month of September to a new high!
Jointly organised by the Singapore Motor Sports Association (“SMSA”) and the Singapore GP Pte Ltd, the idea to hold the President’s Challenge Charity Sprint was in fact only mooted in late August, a few weeks before the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix was set to go off. But before that, the SMSA was already studying how it could develop a legitimate platform for a signature local racing event. Taking Singapore’s venue and space constraints into account, the SMSA felt that the event could take the form of a drag race.
Subsequent discussions with the Singapore GP Pte Ltd led to the approval to use the Marina Bay Circuit’s Pit Straight to host the drag race. Expressing his gratitude, SMSA President Lee Lung-Nien said: ““The Marina Bay Circuit’s Pit Straight is also the perfect venue. Thanks to Singapore GP’s help, virtually all the track infrastructure along the main straight was kept in place for our use”.
Mr Lee added: “The Charity Sprint allows supercar owners to explore their cars’ limits in a highly controlled environment. Full-fledged race tracks can be intimidating to drive on for beginners, but most people adjust very quickly to the drag race format. The added bonus where the specific format of the Charity Sprint is concerned is that reaction time and throttle sensitivity play a big part; this helps equalise horsepower differences.”
A total of 39 supercars of various makes pitted against one another on the 280-metre section of the Pit Straight in a challenge of raw horsepower, reaction time and throttle sensitivity.
Help towards the beneficiaries under the President’s Challenge Charity Sprint was overwhelming. A of total of $200,000 was raised from participating supercar owners.
Mr Lee remarked: “The event was a big success, with very happy participants and guests. SMSA is very pleased to have helped to raise money for the President’s Challenge in a way that also supports the local motor sports scene. We’ve learnt a great deal from the inaugural Sprint and we’re going to make it bigger and better next year.”
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