SINGAPORE: The three groups bidding to design, build and manage the Changi Motorsports Hub made their presentations to the media on Monday.
Singapore Agro Agricultural or SAA, a consortium led by Turf City Management, was the first to unveil its proposal. Among its unique selling points is the fact that it has secured the exclusive rights to stage the annual MotoGP series, which is motorcycling's equivalent to Formula One racing.Calling the facility the Changi International Speedway or CIS, it will comprise a 4.4-kilometre race track that includes 16 turns. There will also be an 8,000-seater covered grandstand overlooking the ocean, plus a full view of the entire race track.
Adjacent to it is the Motorsports Centre of Excellence, which can also accommodate another 4,000 on a temporary basis. Together with a third temporary grandstand and walkabout tickets, the CIS can accommodate up to 60,000 people.
The SAA bid also includes entertainment, shopping, dining and auto workshop facilities which will be made available to the public.
The second consortium is Sports Services, which is owned by the Haw Par Group. Its S$200m proposal includes a 4.2-kilometre track that is designed by world renowned Herman Tilke. He had designed world-class race tracks in Sepang, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi.
Going with the policy of "Motorsports for the Masses", this tender bid also sees the Motorsports Hub being used for carnivals, marathons and corporate events.
The Sports Services Group is confident of bringing Japan's Super GT series and Australia's Super V8 series to thrill fans. Several new local championships will be organised to nurture and groom Singapore drivers.
A prominent feature of the bid sees the establishment of a motorsports country club, which will cater to 3,000 members.
Among the three bidders, SG Changi is the only one that is proposing a track below 4 kilometres long. But Mr Thia Yoke Fan, one of four shareholders of the consortium, said it would result in a faster track.
The 3.7-kilometre long circuit will have a seating capacity of 30,000, including a permanent solar-roof grandstand to accommodate 8,000 seats. Costing about S$280m, it will include a motorsports museum.
The consortium said it has been given "Letters of Interests" from the popular Japan Super GT Series, Australia's V8 Supercars and FIA GT to race on the track should they win the bid.
Apart form Mr Thia, the other shareholders of the company are Singaporean Eddie Koh and former Japan GT driver Genji Hashimoto and Fuminori Murhashi.
- 938LIVE/ir
Motorsports hub: 3 groups unveil plans
The winner which will develop Changi site to be known early next year
Leonard Lim, Straits Times 8 Sep 09;
SLEEPY Changi could soon stage motorcycling's equivalent of Formula One, have a race driving academy whose graduates include top F1 drivers, or be transformed into a family-friendly shopping and entertainment destination.
These tantalising features and more were dangled by the three groups bidding to develop the Changi Motorsports Hub, a facility crucial for Singapore to be an international motorsports destination, in separate presentations to the media yesterday.
The hub will be located on a 41ha site near Changi Airport and is expected to cost between $200 million and $300 million. It will be completed in late 2011.
Based on tender specifications, it will have a track that can host any race except F1, grandstands for at least 8,000 spectators, and car industry-related amenities.
Singapore Agro Agriculture's (SAA) trump card is that it has clinched a deal to stage MotoGP at night - a coup which would see Singapore hosting the top tiers of both motorcycling and motor-racing under the stars.
'That's the jewel in our crown,' said chief operating officer Jason Wong of SAA Holdings, the company behind food-and-retail hub Turf City.
Sports Services, backed by public-listed leisure and health-care products company Haw Par Corporation, emphasised its strong financial position.
This is a possible edge given the trouble in securing loans which is preventing another mega project, the $1.87billion Kallang Sports Hub, from getting started.
Haw Par executive director Chng Hwee Hong said: 'We have a strong balance sheet and a reputation to uphold. Financing is not a main concern, what matters is the project's long-term sustainability.'
Subscription fees from a 3,000-member MotorSports Country Club will help defray the hub's capital and operating costs. Members will have free use of the 4.2km track - good enough to be an F1-test venue - and the right to rent bonded garage space.
The internationally-renowned and United States-based Jim Russell driving academy - graduates include current F1 championship leader Jenson Button - will be another draw.
Track designer Hermann Tilke, who drew up the Marina Bay F1 circuit, also told the Sports Services consortium recently that MotoGP promoters were keen for a tie-up if it won the bid.
SG Changi, fronted by Jurong Kart World, is banking on facilities that will provide entertainment for a wider crowd than just racing enthusiasts.
'Most race tracks are a men-only venue but we want to sell ourselves as a family and tourist destination,' said Mr Norman Simon, managing director of norman2, the firm which is marketing the bid.
Video arcades, a 120-room three-star hotel, a museum and beach activities are part of its proposal.
Five criteria will be used in evaluating bids: Ability to position the hub as the preferred venue for international motorsports events (40 per cent); contribution towards developing a centre of excellence for motorsports training and education (20 per cent); financial and business sustainability (20 per cent); contribution towards developing the local motorsports ecosystem (10 per cent), and attractiveness of commercial mix and events (10 per cent).
The winner will be announced in the first quarter of next year.
Changi Motorsports Hub proposals roll in
All three bidders have clearly different visions, despite putting in similar elements
Nisha Ramchandani, Business Times 8 Sep 09;
(SINGAPORE) Three visions of one dream were on display yesterday when parties vying to build and operate Changi Motorsports Hub (CMH) unveiled their proposals.
Guidelines issued by the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) for the 41 hectare site include a track of at least 3.5 km to be certified Grade 2 by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Grade 1 by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
All three bidders have incorporated elements such as retail, F&B, training academy, Go-Kart track and capacity for at least 30,000 spectators in their bids - but their visions clearly differ.
Singapore Agro Agricultural (SAA)'s 4.37km track will not only meet the FIA-2 and FIM-1 standards but has been designed so it could be extended for Formula One racing should the opportunity arise, SAA said.
The company, whose shareholder Tan Chee Beng is a director of Turf City Management, has also landed an agreement to bring in the hugely popular MotoGP, Formula Ford, Clio Cup and Asia GT races.
SAA reckons that cost of developing its Changi International Speedway at CMH will be around $250-$300 million, to be financed by a mix of debt and investment. It expects to recoup the investment over five years.
Haw Par Corp's wholly owned subsidiary Sports Services proposes to develop a 3,000-member motorsports country club to offset the hefty project cost of CMH - 'in excess of $200 million' - and operating costs. Details of club fees and subscription charges are still to be ironed out.
Sports Services also plans for a Customs-bonded zone with a 563-car garage, where enthusiasts can keep supercars without having to pay massive duty.
For instance, a duty free Ferrari 430F1 Spider has an OMV of $210,000 - plus roughly $255,000 in duty. However, the duty-free car would have to remain within the zone.
Sports Services' plan for a 4.2km track is expected to fulfil FIM-1 certification as well as FIA-1T, which means F1 cars could be tested.
So far, it has signed letters of intent with Australia's V8Supercars and Super GT out of Japan to bring those races here. Other potential events include Asian Superbike, Formula Drift and Race Masters Championship.
Meanwhile, SG Changi, a consortium that includes Kart World owner Thia Yoke Kian, has plans for a 3.7km track in line with FIA-2 requirements. But citing safety issues, it says that its track would not meet the FIM-1 grade at present.
Other SG Changi directors include former Japan GT driver Genji Hashimoto and Singaporean Eddie Koh.
SG Changi has secured letters of interest for international events such as FIA-GT, Super GT, Formula Nippon and Nippon Formula 3, as well as regional series such as Motorsports Asia.
Its $280 million vision for the CMH will be bankrolled largely by foreign investor Auto Trading Luft Japan. The plan includes an R&D facility, motorsports museum and a 120-room 3-4 star hotel.
The winning bidder, which will operate the track for 30 years, will be selected by the first quarter of next year.