Singapore GP Takes “Biggest F1™ Fan” Worldwide

12 May 2011, Singapore – Following the success of last year’s Asia’s Biggest F1™ Fan, Singapore GP is upping the stakes for the popular contest and rebranding it the World’s Biggest F1™ Fan for a global audience. The 2011 edition includes two play-to-win challenges instead of just one quiz component, hosted on a refreshed interactive platform boasting stunning info-graphics of the night race. In a departure from last year, both contests will not be limited to participation within Asia but open to the rest of the world.

Fans have double the chance to win attractive prizes such as a trip for two to the 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX worth over US$10,000 and exclusive Singapore GP race merchandise valued at up to US$600.

1st Challenge: Are You The World’s Biggest F1™ Fan?

Back for a second season with bolder graphics and enhanced gameplay, this interactive challenge involves a race against time to complete 23 questions – same number of turns at the Singapore circuit – related to the sport’s history, rules and trivia on race teams and drivers (25% of the questions are based on the Singapore Grand Prix).

Players have to answer all 23 questions in six minutes or less, and the 23 highest scorers will proceed to a final elimination round on 23 August 2011 to vie for the title of the World’s Biggest F1™ Fan.

One winner will walk away with over US$10,000 worth of prizes including a pair of Green Room hospitality suite tickets valued at US$6,167, a 5D4N hotel stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore worth US$4,058, a pair of exclusive passes to the Drivers’ Autograph Session during the 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX race week, and round trip economy airfare for two.

“What distinguishes Formula One from other premier sporting events is its historically rich legacy and ability to stay innovative, relevant and exciting with every season,” said Colin Syn, Deputy Chairman, Singapore GP. “We hope to follow the same footprint by taking the Asian edition of Biggest F1™ Fan global this year. It’s a great way to reward the most ardent F1 fan and at the same time, highlight the many unique points about our night race!”

Last year’s winner of the Asia’s Biggest F1™ Fan contest, Derek Chan, walked away with over US$8,000 worth of prizes including a pair of Green Room tickets, a 5D4N hotel stay, exclusive merchandise, and a pair of passes to the Drivers’ Autograph Session.

2nd Challenge: What Makes The Singapore Grand Prix Special For You?

Running parallel to the World’s Biggest F1™ Fan game is a contest that calls upon fans to share a personal anecdote on what makes the Singapore Grand Prix special for them. The challenge is to write it in no more than 61 characters which is the same number of laps the drivers are required to complete at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Participants who submit the top three best entries will win an exclusive goodie bag packed with limited edition Singapore GP merchandise valued at US$200, US$400, US$600 respectively. The contest closes on 27 November, 2011.

To take part in both challenges, visit www.singaporegp.sg or www.biggestf1fan.com.

SingTel's 2011 Formula One Sponsorship Press Conference

On Tuesday 22nd of March, SingTel, the main sponsor of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, organized a press conference to let us in on the new and exciting upcoming features that come along 2011's race.

The brains behind this year's amazing F1 entertainment.

With the aim of making the Formula One experience more than just a race to attend to, SingTel is introducing a series of "firsts" under the tag line of "Fast is Amazing", which will bring the racing spirit everywhere in Singapore thanks to F1 simulators challenges, but also other types of "races" centered around Singapore's daily activities, such as the fastest durian eater, the fastest SMS typer and eight other "disciplines". These contests' winning results will then be submitted for the Guinness World Records with the aim of making Singapore the Fastest Nation on Earth.

"During this Formula One season, we want Singaporeans to feel the race action both on and off the track," said SingTel's CEO Singapore, Mr Allen Lew.

The activities and contests organized by SingTel will take place around Singapore, every race week ends, which will see the races broadcasting live via SingTel's mio TV at selected Kopitiam, Harry's bars, and shopping malls, in full HD and for a first in Singapore, in 3D. Celebrities will also be joining the live screenings and join the "Fast is Amazing" campaign by creating their personal records along with the audience.

SingTel will also be putting us, spectators, in the driver's seat with six in-car cameras that will be mounted on six different cars, giving us the opportunity to see the race from the driver's point of view.

The races can be seen live on three ESPN STAR Sports channels exclusive to SingTel:

Mio TV chennel 115, the online ESPN player and Mobile ESPN on mobile phones and devices.

For F1 Die Hards and all racing enthusiasts in Singapore, SingTel will be touring the island with custom built F1 race simulators, built with a technology similar as the ones used by the professional F1 drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button to train, which allow you to race on the Singapore GP track, feel the bumps in the road, the acceleration and braking of the F1 car you will be driving. Everyone is encouraged to sign up and try to post their best timing to win a replica of the Singapore F1 GP trophy!

To make things even more exiting, SingTel will be organizing a 24 hours Simulator Race where the 40 top timers on the simulator will be pitted around the clock in eight teams of five. The winning team will be declared Singapore's fastest team, be rewarded free tickets to the race and the chance to meet one of the F1 drivers and even compete against him on the simulator!

In addition to all this, SingTel, in association with Singapore Motor Sports Association, is preparing Singapore's next generation of racing talent by sponsoring 30 students to learn and practice the fundamentals of racing with go-karts, and build a solid base for a future professional racing career and represent Singapore in motorsports events across the globe in years to come.

SingTel will be keeping a close watch on 12 to 15 years old contestants during the F1 simulator tryouts that will tour the island during the F1 season and select the top 30 of them to be eligible for the sponsorship. SingTel will offer a free Go-Karting track day to the three top ranking students and their schools.

Of course, racing is but one part of the sport, and having a good physical endurance is a key element in the victory of drivers, so SingTel will be sponsoring this year's Tri-Factor Triathlon, a sports event that combines swimming, biking, running and triathlon.

As if it wasn't enough, SingTel is also launching an interactive smart phone app, which gives the latest F1 news, team information, events calendar, but also find and support the candidates who take part in the "races" around Singapore.

All of these features are also on SingTel's brand new interactive online portal at www.singtel.com/f1, where users can also vote for their favourite SingTel Grid Girls, who will be shortlisted and selected by local celebrities.

Last but no least, SingTel will also be introducing the Formula One Fantasy game on the online portal, which gives everyone the opportunity to build and manage his or her own F1 racing team and come up with winning strategies to dominate other racing teams.

Well, dear readers, if some of you were complaining about not having enough presents, SingTel is here this year with enough goodies to satisfy even the most demanding ones of us! Make sure to check out the portal at www.singtel.com/f1 to enjoy the most of this new experience!

Special thanks to Shane, Robin and all the team at Ogilvy PR Worldwide for your support!