"The haze situation is highly changeable not only from day to day, but from hour to hour. Therefore, it is currently not possible to reliably predict what the PSI level might be over the race weekend," says Singapore GP.
Abhishek Ravikrishnan Channel NewsAsia 15 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE: Organisers of the Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Grand Prix say based on the current PSI (Pollution Standard Index) levels, there are no plans to amend the published racing and entertainment programme despite Unhealthy levels of haze shrouding Singapore.
The Singapore Grand Prix will be taking place at the Marina Bay Street Circuit from Sep 18 to 20.
"The haze situation is highly changeable not only from day to day, but from hour to hour. Therefore, it is currently not possible to reliably predict what the PSI level might be over the race weekend. We will continue to work closely with all the relevant government authorities to receive the best possible forecasts when they are available," Singapore GP said.
Organisers said they have put in place a number of measures for the race weekend:
The PSI reading and relevant health advisory will be displayed on the Singapore GP website (www.singaporegp.sg), official Singapore GP mobile app, and on the giant screens between races and broadcast on the in-circuit radio system. The Government health advisory will also be posted at all Circuit Park entrances.
N95 masks will be available for patrons throughout the Circuit Park at cost price.
All 24 medical and first aid posts have been placed on standby to handle any possible haze-related conditions
Said Associate Professor Koh Tieh-Yong from the Division of Earth Sciences at Nanyang Technological University: "Singapore lies in the tropics, and in the tropical regions, the predictability of our weather is never more than a day, sometimes less. So it's very hard at this moment, Tuesday, to make a pronouncement on how's the wind conditions going to be like by the time the weekend comes. The winds will determine, to a large extent, whether this mass of air, with this haze, with all these suspended smoke particles, comes over Singapore or not."
Fox Sports' F1 analyst Alex Yoong said visibility is a safety factor not just on the race circuit.
"Where it'll actually get dangerous is if the haze is so bad that a helicopter cannot take-off," he said. "If that happens, the FIA (the organisers) will definitely suspend track running. Because in case there's a bad accident and they need to extract a driver to a hospital straightaway, you need that helicopter to be available to them. That's the only thing I see stopping the race."
The former F1 driver also believes drivers will not be deterred by the conditions. "You can always get one or two drivers who might complain, but they drive race cars around a track and go around really fast. That's not really the safest thing in the world," said Mr Yoong. "I'll be very surprised if all of them decide to boycott just due to a little bit of smoke in their lungs."
- CNA/ly/ek
The race will go on
LOW LIN FHOONG Today Online 15 Sep 15;
SINGAPORE — The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit is expected to go ahead this weekend in spite of the haze situation here.
Race promoters Singapore GP said in a statement issued today (Sept 15): “Based on the current PSI (Pollutant Standards Index) levels, there are no plans to amend the published racing and entertainment programme.”
“The haze situation is highly changeable, not only from day to day, but from hour to hour. Therefore, it is currently not possible to reliably predict what the PSI level might be over the race weekend. We will continue to work closely with all the relevant government authorities to receive the best possible forecasts when they are available.”
A number of measures will be put in place for the Sept 18 to 20 race, said Singapore GP. These include displaying PSI readings and health advisories on the Singapore GP website (www.singaporegp.sg), the official Singapore GP mobile app, and on the giant screens between races. They will also be broadcast on the in-circuit radio system. The government health advisory will also be placed at the entrances of the circuit park.
Singapore GP will also make N95 masks available to spectators throughout the circuit at cost price, and all 24 medical and first aid posts will be on standby to handle any haze-related medical conditions.
The current haze situation is the worst here in two years, with PSI levels hitting the 24-hour range of “unhealthy” (101-200) air quality during the past few days. A number of outdoor events have also been affected. Last Sunday’s Singtel-Singapore Cancer Society Race Against Cancer was called off, while the organisers of the POSB Passion Run for Kids cancelled the 10km category and Kids’ Run from its line-up after the three-hour PSI hit 147.
While Singapore GP’s decision to go ahead with the race will be met with relief by fans, sponsors, and advertisers, some fans are adopting a wait-and-see approach for the weekend.
“I will gauge how the weather is as I feel this is the worst case of haze that we’ve ever had,” said Ning Cai, 32, who had planned to watch American band Maroon 5 on Saturday.
“I will bring my own mask, but if it gets really bad, there is no point going as I wouldn’t want to fall ill. (PSI) numbers aside, it’s more about how I feel on the weekend. I just recovered from a fever and still have a sore throat (from the haze).”
Designer Justin Cheong, 24, felt that the measures were sufficient for spectators. He said: “That’s more than good enough for me because I won’t give up my ticket.”
“I am going with my colleagues and there is a bit of worry about the haze, but we will be bringing our masks. It (the situation) is not that bad yet so it won’t stop us.”
Singapore Grand Prix officials unfazed by haze
Reuters 15 Sep 15;
Organisers of this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix have played down concerns about the cloud of haze hanging over the city, saying it was not expected to impact on Sunday's Formula One race.
The city-state has been blanketed by thick smog for the past week, a result of farmers in neighbouring Sumatra burning forests to clear their land for agriculture.
The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in Singapore has fluctuated well above 100, levels considered "unhealthy", for the past few days, and reached as high as 249 on Monday night, putting it in "very unhealthy" territory.
Race officials said they were monitoring the situation and planned to place first-aid stations on standby to treat any possible haze-related conditions over the weekend, as well as selling face masks at cost price.
But the officials said there were no plans to change any of the scheduled events over the race weekend, including the pop concerts held each night at the Marina Bay street circuit.
"Based on the current PSI levels, there are no plans to amend the published racing and entertainment programme," Singapore GP said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The haze situation is highly changeable not only from day to day, but from hour to hour. Therefore, it is currently not
possible to reliably predict what the PSI level might be over the race weekend.
"We will continue to work closely with all the relevant government authorities to receive the best possible forecasts when they are available."
The Singapore Grand Prix is the 13th race of the season and defending world champion and last year's winner Lewis Hamilton will be a strong favourite to extend his championship lead, currently 53 points, with an eighth victory of the campaign.
(Reporting by Julian Linden and Pritha Sarkar)
