Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit

Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit was a former street circuit at Thomson Road in Singapore. It hosted races from 1961 to 1973 for automobiles under Formula Libre and Australian Formula 2 rules as well as for motorcycles.

Thomson Road Circuit
LocationThomson Road, Singapore[1]
Time zoneSST (UTC+08:00)
Coordinates1°22′59.52″N 103°49′8.78″E
Opened16 September 1961 (1961-09-16)
Closed22 April 1973 (1973-04-22)
Major eventsSingapore Grand Prix
(1961, 1966–1973)
Malaysia Grand Prix (1962–1965)
Grand Prix Circuit (1961–1973)
Length4.865 km (3.023 miles)
Turns9
Race lap record1:54.9 (Australia Leo Geoghegan, Birrana 273, 1973, Australian F2)

During the initial years, the main races for motorcycles and cars were 60 laps long. 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, which also ran to Formula Libre rules, saw Singaporean Lee Han Seng win in a Lotus 22. The final victory went to Australian Vern Schuppan in a March 722 in 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 as well as to promote the sport. 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, Yong Nam Kee – who apparently was known as 'Fatso' due to his size – took victory in an E-Type Jaguar. Hong Kong driver Albert Poon – a Macau Grand Prix winner - triumphed in 1963 and 1965, although the 1964 car race was abandoned after 5 laps because of torrential rain.[3] That year's race was also marred by a marshal being killed when a Jaguar flew off the track and hit him.

On 11 April 1966, Singapore hosted its first national grand prix. Singaporean 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 to 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.[4]

Past winners
YearDateRace nameDriverCarRiderMotorcycle
196116–17 SeptemberSingapore Grand PrixIan BarnwellAston Martin DB3SChris Proffit-WhiteHonda 4
196222–23 AprilMalaysia Grand PrixYong Nam KeeJaguar E-TypeTeisuke TanakaHonda
196314–15 AprilMalaysia Grand PrixAlbert PoonLotus 23 FordChris ConnNorton Manx
196429–30 MarchMalaysia Grand PrixRace cancelled (weather)–Akiyasu MotohashiYamaha
196511–12 AprilMalaysia Grand PrixAlbert PoonLotus 23 FordAkiyasu MotohashiYamaha
19669–11 AprilSingapore Grand PrixLee Han SengLotus 22Mitsuo ItohSuzuki
196725–27 MarchSingapore Grand PrixRodney SeowMerlynAkiyasu MotohashiYamaha
196812–15 AprilSingapore Grand PrixGarrie CooperElfin 600Akiyasu MotohashiYamaha
19694–6 AprilSingapore Grand PrixGraeme LawrenceMcLaren M4ATham Bing KwanNorton
197026–29 MarchSingapore Grand PrixGraeme LawrenceFerrari Dino 246TOu Teck WinYamaha
19718–11 AprilSingapore Grand PrixGraeme LawrenceBrabham BT30Geoff PerrySuzuki
197230 March–2 AprilSingapore Grand PrixMax StewartMildren FordGeoff PerrySuzuki
197318–22 AprilSingapore Grand PrixVern SchuppanMarch 722Bill MolloyKawasaki

Characteristics

The Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit measures 4.865 km (3.023 mi) long per lap and runs in a clockwise direction.[5] 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]

The Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit had many challenging features, including the treacherous "Circus Hairpin" bends and the "Snakes" section.[6] 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]

Seven people died due to racing accidents in the 11 years of the Singapore Grand Prix. Two people died during the last two consecutive editions of the Grand Prix, at the 1972 Singapore Grand Prix, Lionel Chan, the nephew of local racing champion Chan Lye Choon, died after falling into a ravine, while in the 1973 race Swiss competitor Joe Huber died after crashing his car into a telegraph pole.[2][7]

Legacy

The 1974 edition of the Grand Prix was cancelled due to safety concerns, although the layout has been preserved and is now a part of the Thomson Nature Park[8] . The Singapore Grand Prix would not be held until its revival in 2008, as a Formula One race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the country's central business district.[9]

Lap records

The fastest official race lap records at the Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Grand Prix Circuit (1961–1973): 4.865 km
Australian Formula Two1:54.900[10]Leo GeogheganBirrana 2731973 Singapore Grand Prix
Formula Two1:54.900[11]Roly LevisBrabham BT23C[12]1969 Singapore Grand Prix
Group 42:18.300[13]Lee Han SengLotus 231967 Singapore Grand Prix
Sports car racing2:20.600[14]Steve HollandLotus 471968 Singapore Grand Prix

See also

References
  1. "Old Upper Thomson Rd · Singapore". Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. "First Singapore Grand Prix". National Library Board, Singapore. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. "Vroom Vroom… Looking Back at the Old Singapore Grand Prix". Remember Singapore. 26 November 2016. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  4. Edd Straw (24 September 2009). "The Singapore Grand Prix preview". Autosport.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. Solomon, Eli (1 November 2008). Snakes & Devils: A History Of The Singapore Grand Prix. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9789812615848.
  6. "Yolo isn't just a hashtag". Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  7. A history of the Singapore Grand Prix, en.espn.co.uk, as archived at web.archive.org
  8. "Old Upper Thomson PC". National Parks Board. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  9. "First Singapore Grand Prix is Held at Thomson Road Circuit". National Library Board, Singapore. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  10. "1973 Singapore Grand Prix". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  11. "1969 Singapore Grand Prix". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. "Singapore Grand Prix 1969 Standings". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  13. "GP Singapore 1967". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  14. "GP Singapore 1968". Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
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