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October flag off for next year’s S’pore Grand Prix

SINGAPORE — In a move that has caught fans by surprise, the 10th edition of the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix will be held on Oct 1 next year instead of its usual September slot on the race calendar.

The shift in dates could see a possible increase in last-minute sales for the Singapore Grand Prix next season. Photo: Koh Mui Fong

The shift in dates could see a possible increase in last-minute sales for the Singapore Grand Prix next season. Photo: Koh Mui Fong

SINGAPORE — In a move that has caught fans by surprise, the 10th edition of the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix will be held on Oct 1 next year instead of its usual September slot on the race calendar.

Formula One’s governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), had unveiled its 21-race provisional calendar for 2017 on Wednesday. While no new races were added, a number of date shifts and reshuffles will be implemented.

The Singapore Grand Prix, dubbed the “crown jewel of F1” by head honcho Bernie Ecclestone, will see its traditional September fixture moved by a month, with the 2017 Malaysia Grand Prix (Sept 17) set to precede the Singapore night race.

This is a reversal from this season, where the Singapore Grand Prix was held two weeks before the Sepang race on Oct 2.

Noting that Malaysia had lobbied very hard to move its race to October this year, sports analyst James Walton said the proximity of both races meant a knock-on effect which would boost domestic attendances.

However, the changes for the 2017 season could see a setback for Malaysia, said Walton, the Clients and Markets partner and head of the Sports Business service line at Deloitte Singapore and South-east Asia: “Overall, I think the biggest potential impact would be a possible increase in last-minute sales for Singapore stemming from coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix coming so shortly before the Singapore Grand Prix.

“Conversely, it may have the opposite effect on Malaysia that will no longer benefit from following close behind the high-profile Singapore Grand Prix.”

Formula One has seen declining spectatorship and television viewership in recent times — one example would be the Sepang race, which saw attendance dipping from a total of 120,000 spectators in 2013 to 80,600 last year.

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, the Singapore Grand Prix saw its lowest-ever ticket sales this year with a total of 219,000 people turning out over the three-day event.

Formula One’s provisional calendar for 2017 also listed the German, Canadian and Brazilian Grands Prix as subject to confirmation, while the season-opener in Melbourne on March 26 will flag off a week later than its 2016 start. LOW LIN FHOONG

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