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New S$2m karting track at Singapore Turf Club

SINGAPORE — To be operational by the middle of September, a S$2 million 960m karting track that was launched today (July 31) will soon be a playground for world championship drivers and racing enthusiasts alike.

World renowned F1 and KF1 circuit designer Herman Tilke racing laps on the site of the KF1 Karting Circuit at the Singapore Turf Club. Photo: Don Wong

World renowned F1 and KF1 circuit designer Herman Tilke racing laps on the site of the KF1 Karting Circuit at the Singapore Turf Club. Photo: Don Wong

SINGAPORE — To be operational by the middle of September, a S$2 million 960m karting track that was launched today (July 31) will soon be a playground for world championship drivers and racing enthusiasts alike.

The KF1 Karting Circuit, which was conceptualised by Formula 1 track designer Hermann Tilke, will be built and operated by Arina International Holding (AIH) at the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji.

The track will have 18 turns — 10 left and eight right — with the longest straight stretching 140m and drivers can reach top speeds of 120 kmh and compete each lap in average time of 46 seconds.

Parts of the circuit will run under the MRT tracks near Kranji station and approval had to be sought from public transport operator SMRT.

At a press conference, Mr Richard Tan, a businessman and AIH’s managing director, said the green light was given today.

In the coming weeks, a concrete foundation and two layers of tarmac will be laid out for the circuit, with the aim of getting it up and running before the F1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix from Sept 19 to 21.

The rest of the facility, including the pit building, is scheduled to be completed by October.

Mr Tan said he hopes that with the help of the night race organisers, Singapore GP’s F1 drivers will be able to offer their opinion of the track after driving on it.

He also plans to stage this year’s karting KF1 Corporate Challenge at the new facility. The event was previously held at the F1 pit building and will now alternate between the two locations every year before the night race.

TODAY first reported on July 10 AIH’s plans to build Singapore’s first international-class karting track that will meet the standard approved by world governing body CIK-FIA.

Since then, 50 slots AIH offered at the launch of private membership drive, costing S$1,200 a year, were snapped up within two days. Corporate rates for four drivers will cost S$6,800 a year.

“We have received a lot of enquiries since the news broke,” said Mr Tan. “We are in the midst of finalising our marketing plans but we will be opening more slots very soon so that more racing enthusiasts can join us.”

The avid kart and badminton enthusiast previously built the S$1.5 million, state-of-the-art Singapore Badminton Hall in Geylang in 2011, after the nearby original building had closed down three years earlier. Demand for that facility has been good, he said, and he expects a return on his investment within two years. Mr Tan said he is building the badminton and karting facilities because of his passion for both sports. He has not set any key performance indicator (KPI) on when KF1 will return a profit.

Track fees range from S$30 to S$80 for members, and S$50 to S$100 for non-members. “I am not doing this with any KPI in mind because I want to do things that I really love and enjoy like the badminton hall, which was well received and enjoyed by the public. It is a satisfaction that money cannot buy,” said Mr Tan.

Mr Barry Kan, chief executive officer of FASTrack Autosports, was also at the launch. His company is building a RM 3.5 billion (S$1.36 billion) motorsports city in Johor’s Iskandar region. Mr Kan said the new circuit in Kranji will complement the track that is being built across the Causeway. The Nusajaya complex will feature a 4.5-km FIA-certified Grade 2 track, a kart and drag racing track, food and beverage and entertainment facilities. Mr Kan said: “When we have a bigger base of motorsports participants and they want to graduate from karting to cars, they can come to us. We are not competing, we are complementary to each other.”

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