Alvin's Formula One Blog

Re-published from Malaysian Insider by Justin Ong Sept 27 — Motorsports costs money . All sports, to some degree, cost money but more to the point, motorsports costs a lot of money. So much money that only the rich or very talented ever get to participate here in Malaysia. First there’s the vehicle itself, but rather than being the bulk of your investment, it is merely the gaping hole into which you would proceed to pour all your money into. Modifications can and often do cost more than the car itself. Or even several times the cost of the car. Once it’s up and running, you need more money to keep it going. Maintenance can be frightening, as things which last years on a normal car regularly run only two or three events, not to mention racing parts are often a magnitude more expensive than standard items. Beyond parts, you’ll also need a crew to keep the vehicle running. That’s money, too. For the average guy thinking of trying to self-finance his own motorsport career, let me tel...

When Singapore says they are going to do something, you bet they will do it and do it right. Now after only their second year into hosting the F1 race, they are already talking about developing a motorsports hub with 3 proposals being put forward. 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. When they plan something, they plan it properly from the start. A race track will not be much, it must be accompanied by other facilities to attract a bigger market. They know how to tap the thirst for motorsports there. Sepang has been in existence for 11 years and nothing resembling a hub has come up. The government adn powers that be keep talking and wasting money. Soon Singapore will overtake us and again, money around the region will flow into Singapore. No wonder a small country with no natural resources is richer tha...