PERTH: Singapore is close to staging a leg of the world-famous Red Bull Air Race in 2010.
Race organisers, who currently are in talks with Singapore tourism officials, said the prospect of Singapore hosting one round of the eight-leg world championships 'looks very promising'.
A likely staging ground would be the Marina Bay area. The time-based air race pits the world's ace pilots flying agile and lightweight racing planes through a maze of inflated conical air gates, called pylons.
The 1,200m by 800m aerial track can span land and water. The eight races this year were in in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, San Diego and Detroit in the United States, and London, Rotterdam, Porto and Budapest in Europe.
Britain's Paul Bonhomme won the final race in Perth on Sunday, while Austria's Hannes Arch was crowned 2008 champion.
If both sides should sign on the dotted line, Singapore would be the first Asian country to host a leg of race, dubbed the Formula One race in the air.
Mr Stefan Lehrmayer, director of international relations and acquisitions at the Austrian-based organiser Red Bull Air Race GmbH, told The Straits Times that the Singapore race would fall between April and June in the eight-month race calendar. He said that both sides were working to iron out location and safety issues.
'We are looking for a perfect backdrop to frame the race, as well as ensuring that planes fly safely,' said Mr Lehrmayer, speaking on the sidelines of the race in Perth on Sunday.
Responding to media queries, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) officials said that 'nothing was confirmed'.
'The Red Bull Air Race has potential to showcase Singapore's beautiful skyline and would be a nice fit in our events calendar,' said STB's director for cluster development (events and entertainment) Lynette Pang.
Red Bull Air Race in Perth
She was here with senior tourism officials, including STB's incoming chief executive Aw Kah Peng.
If given the green light, the island would get to witness pilots Mike Mangold, Peter Besenyei and Kirby Chambliss burn up the skies here.
'Ultimately, it must be a win-win situation and an event that will put Singapore on the map as a leading sporting and entertainment capital in Asia,' said Ms Pang.
The optimism is backed by the success of the inaugural Formula One night race two months ago, which pulled in 50,000 visitors.
Another crowd-pulling event is the 10-month-long Volvo Ocean Race that will sail into Singapore come January.
Just last week, it was announced that Singapore will host one leg of the Moto GP from as early as 2011.
In Perth, more than 50,000 people flocked to the shores of the Swan River on Sunday to witness the high jinks.
The air race organisers are hopeful that the familiar green light to start the race, 'smoke on', will soon be heard from Singapore shores to thrill adrenalin junkies.
Said Mr Lehrmayer: 'Singapore already has F1 on the road and in the sea. It's a good time to include one in the air.'
Top picture: The world-famous Red Bull Air Race pits the world's ace pilots flying agile and lightweight racing planes through a maze of inflated conical air gates, called pylons.
About the race
What is this?
It is an aviation motorsport featuring the world's best pilots flying lightweight racing planes.
In a competition based on speed, precision and skill, a dozen pilots take turns to navigate a low-level aerial race track made up of air-filled pylons or air gates.
Planes thunder overhead at top speeds of up to 370kmh while performing heart-stopping precision aerobatics.
Pilots pull about 12Gs of G-force during the 70-second routine - comparable to what fighter pilots withstand.
Where is the race held?
The annual world championship is run over eight legs in Abu Dhabi, San Diego, Detroit, Rotterdam, London, Porto, Budapest and Perth.
What does it take to set up the race?
About 350 crew members criss-cross the world to set up 400 tonnes of equipment such as 12 race planes, portable hangars, air gates and a five-storey race tower.
How popular is the race?
It is beamed to more than 500 million people in 115 countries on six continents. Close to three million people watched the race in the host cities this year.
Who won this year?
Briton Paul Bonhomme won the final race in Perth on Sunday, but Austrian Hannes Arch was crowned 2008 champion.
jermync@sph.com.sg
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 4, 2008.
