The most famous and historically rich races where public streets are closed for traffic due to racing is Monaco. However, a new venue, the Singapore night race, created a major stir last September, for its inaugural race. The Monaco Grand Prix is a F1 race, usually held in May, dates back to 1929, and has made legends in the name of Fangio, Moss, Clark, Brabham, Stewart, Prost, Senna, and Schumacher, with their epic qualifying and race battles. We usually see these street race courses on TV, but what preparations must be made to transform public roads into world class race courses with 1000hp F1 cars?

Months before the race date, various safety measures and devices such as barrier walls, tire absorbing crash barriers, safety nets, fences, foot bridges, run – off areas, re-paving of tarmac in some cases, grandstands, race control towers, paddock garages, and access roads, are all part of the mix. Conducting a motor sport race in a closed public road designed for commuters, and in the case of Monaco, whose roads were built in the early 1900s, is a challenge. Race organizers seeks to make it as safe as possible to its competitors and spectators, yet retain its unique and challenging nature.   

In the case of the new 2008 Singapore F1 night race, they had to install 1,500 projector lights to simulate daylight conditions with standby generators, construct tunnels, garages, paddocks, foot bridges, tramways to insure great spectating and safety of the visitors. The result was nothing short of spectacular praises for the organizers, and the venue has been dubbed as the “Monaco of the East”.

There are as many rules and considerations made in respect to the spectators as well. Littering, entering in restricted areas, and viewing the race action in unsafe areas are items that need strict enforcement. The role of local owners of establishments along the race course also play an important role in enforcing the rules and ethics of safe motor racing spectating, especially to tourists who are first time visitors to the principality or city. 

The closure of public roads for racing are getting more rare worldwide due to certain negative aspects of said events such as detours, noise pollution, traffic, and accessibility of destinations. As a result, street races are not universally acceptable to a whole lot of communities although to other communities that stuck it out, it has reaped enormous benefits in terms of worldwide media coverage, tourism income and worldwide recognition and that makes it well worth their sacrifices.  

By Deena Tomacruz

Deena is a freelance writer.