Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

S’pore Grand Prix gets new trophy

SINGAPORE — While it is anybody’s guess who will win next month’s Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, one thing is certain: The winner will show off a brand new trophy.

Self-confessed ‘F1 nut’ Sanjay Chauhan designed the Singapore Grand Prix trophy. PHOTO: DON WONG

Self-confessed ‘F1 nut’ Sanjay Chauhan designed the Singapore Grand Prix trophy. PHOTO: DON WONG

SINGAPORE — While it is anybody’s guess who will win next month’s Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, one thing is certain: The winner will show off a brand new trophy.

Modelled after SIA’s logo, the 52cm-tall trophy was unveiled yesterday at the Marina Bay Sands boutique of Singapore jewellery brand RISIS, who also hand-crafted the trophy.

In April, SIA replaced telco SingTel as the new title sponsor of the Singapore Grand Prix, the only full night race on the F1 world championship calendar, on a two-year deal.

The carrier’s vice-president for marketing, communications and development Sheldon Hee said it had been working on packages to bring more visitors to Singapore for the race.

“The trophy symbolises elegance, innovation, technology and precision and is an exciting opportunity for us to express the values that Singapore Airlines brings to the table,” he said. “The starting point of our partnership is the belief in positioning Singapore as an iconic destination ... with the race as a backdrop and attraction.”

SIA has been involved in a series of roadshows, in tandem with the Singapore Grand Prix, to help bring this year’s race (Sept 19-21) at the Marina Bay Street Circuit closer to the public.

“We have an ongoing Snap & Win contest to engage the public ... and look forward to the race weekend itself,” said Hee. “We hope to bring an element of the Singapore Airlines hospitality to the whole race.

The iconic Singapore Girl will also appear at the Singapore Grand Prix, with about 50 kebaya-clad stewardesses to feature on the starting grid and the prize-presentation podium.

For Sanjay Chauhan, head of design for creative agency TBWA, the trophy was an especially exciting project. The self-confessed “F1 nut” said the design process started in April and the final product was the chosen from more than 20 sketches that were initially presented.

“SIA eventually picked one of the original sketches, which is the side profile of the SIA bird, and we just wanted to make it as beautiful as possible,” said Chauhan.

“As an F1 fan, it’s a massive honour to design something for Formula 1. I don’t think I’ve been so excited about one particular project.”

Chauhan made no secret on who he would like to see being handed the trophy on Sept 21. Said the Kenyan-born Briton: “I don’t support a team specifically, but my favourite driver is Lewis Hamilton (of Mercedes). It would be awesome if he picked it up in Singapore.”

The 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix trophy

Height: 52cm

Width: 18.5cm

Weight: 5kg

Modelled after the Singapore Airlines logo, with three 24-karat gold-plated stripes representing power, direction and speed

Base containing seven rings representing the seven years the Singapore Grand Prix has been held

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.