Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit

The Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit was a former street circuit on Old Upper Thomson Road in Singapore. It hosted races from 1961 to 1973 under Formula Libre and Australian Formula 2 rules; races until 1965 are now considered part of the lineage of the Malaysian Grand Prix, and races after Singapore's independence in 1965 are considered part of the lineage of the Singapore Grand Prix. During the initial years, the main Motorcycle and Car Grand Prix lasted 60 laps, although this was eventually refined into two separate races - a preliminary 20 lap event followed by a 40 lap event. The first Singapore Grand Prix of 1961 was won by Ian Barnwell in an Aston Martin DB3S while the first Singapore Grand Prix of post-independence Singapore in 1966 (also run to Formula Libre rules) saw Lee Han Seng win in a Lotus 22 Lotus-Ford. The final victory went to Vern Schuppan in a March-Ford in 1973.

Thomson Road Circuit
LocationSingapore Old Upper Thomson Road [1]
Time zoneGMT +8
Opened1961
Closed1973
Major eventsSingapore Grand Prix
Length4.865 km (3.023 mi)
Turns9
Race lap record1:54.9 (Leo Geoghegan, Birrana, 1973)

History

In 1960, a Grand Prix was devised as part of the "Visit Singapore – The Orient Year" campaign to attract tourists to the region. At that time, Singapore lacked a formal racing circuit, and as a result, a new circuit had to be found. The initial suggestion for a street circuit that ran through Thomson, Whitley, Dunearn and Adam Roads was found to be unfeasible due to the massive traffic disruption it would cause to residents. After consideration of other existing circuits, it was decided that a new circuit would be created along the old and new Upper Thomson Road.[2]

In 1962 the race was renamed the Malaysian Grand Prix as Singapore had yet to gain independence, with Yong Nam Kee - who apparently was known as 'Fatso' - taking victory in an E-Type Jaguar. Hong Kong driver Albert Poon - a Macau Grand Prix winner - triumphed in 1963 and 1965, although the 1964 running of the race was abandoned because of torrential rain. That year's race was also marred by a marshal being killed when a Jaguar flew off the track and hit him.

On August 9 1965, Singapore gained its independence, and on April 11 the following year it hosted its first national grand prix. Home driver Lee Han Seng won in a Lotus 22, followed by compatriot Rodney Seow in a Merlyn in 1967. Elfin founder Garrie Cooper won in 1968, but it was New Zealander Graeme Lawrence who became the most successful driver in the history of the event with three successive wins from 1969-1971, the second of those triumphs coming behind the wheel of a Ferrari 246T. Another Australian, Max Stewart, won in 1972, with Vern Schuppan taking a March Formula 2 car to victory in the final Singapore Grand Prix of that era in 1973.[3]

Past winners
YearDriverCar
1961Ian BarnwellAston Martin DB3S
1962Yong Nam KeeJaguar E-Type
1963Albert PoonLotus 23 Ford
1964Race cancelled-
1965Albert PoonLotus 23 Ford
1966Lee Han SengLotus 22
1967Rodney SeowMerlyn
1968Garrie CooperElfin 600
1969Graeme LawrenceMcLaren M4A
1970Graeme LawrenceFerrari Dino 246T
1971Graeme LawrenceBrabham BT30
1972Max StewartMildren Ford
1973Vern SchuppanMarch 722

Characteristics

The Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit measures 4.865 km or 3.023 miles long per lap and runs in a clockwise direction.[4] The circuit starts with the "Thomson Mile", a mile-long stretch along Upper Thomson Road.[2] Halfway through this stretch of road, there was "The Hump", a right hand turn that caused drivers to lift off the ground if they sped past this bend.[2]

Safety

The Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit had many challenging features, including the treacherous "Circus Hairpin" bends and the "Snakes" section.[5] In particular, the "Murder Mile" feature of this track derived its name from the fact that many racing accidents occurred along this stretch. Similarly, "Devil's Bend" got its name because it was the most dangerous part of the circuit.[2]

A total of seven lives were lost due to racing accidents in the 11 years history of the Singapore Grand Prix. Two lives were lost during the last two consecutive editions of the Grand Prix:[6] at the 1972 Grand Prix, Lionel Chan, the nephew of local racing champion Chan Lye Choon, died after falling into a ravine while in the 1973 edition, Swiss competitor Joe Huber died after crashing his car into a cable pole.[2]

Safety concerns was the official reason cited for the cancellation of the 1974 edition of the Grand Prix that heralded the end of Singapore Prix until 2008.[7]

See also

References
  1. https://goo.gl/maps/LictszD4tSx
  2. "First Singapore grand prix on Infopedia". National Library Board, Singapore. 2 December 2008. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  3. Edd Straw (24 September 2009). "The Singapore Grand Prix preview". Autosport.com.
  4. Solomon, Eli (1 November 2008). Snakes & Devils: A History Of The Singapore Grand Prix. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9789812615848.
  5. "Yolo isn't just a hashtag". Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  6. A history of the Singapore Grand Prix, en.espn.co.uk, as archived at web.archive.org
  7. "First Singapore Grand Prix is Held at Thomson Road Circuit". National Library Board, Singapore. 2014. Retrieved 5 July 2015.

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