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2008 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix

Posted by narrowband - 01/10/08 at 01:10:55 am

Singapore played host to the world’s first Formula 1 night race last weekend, and I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy it live at the Marina Bay circuit. I purchased the walk-about ticket a few months ago, which happened to be the cheapest one on sale. No regrets at all!
[Warning: Photo-loaded entry. Dial-ups may suffer.]

The historic race was eventually won by Renault’s Fernando Alonso, who started from 15th on the grid.

That’s one of the Ferraris coming out of Turn 10. Turn 10 was one of the slower corners of the circuit.

I shot mostly with a 70-200mm f2.8 zoom lens, and since the entire track was fenced up, manual focusing was the order of the day.

I bumped up my ISO (hence the noise), and even stepped down my exposure in order to get the best shutter speed. Totally maxed out the capabilities of my camera.

That’s David Coulthard powering his way through in his Red Bull.

The only other F1 race I had been to was Sepang, but I was never this close to the track, even though my ticket was pricier!

Nick Heidfeld in his BMW! Notice his left hand was off the steering wheel?

The Safety Car was deployed twice in the race, which had contributed a great deal to Fernando Alonso’s victory. He actually said after Saturday’s qualifying that his race was “over”. Who’d have thought he’d win it instead!

Two Red Bulls in action. Here it’s Mark Webber at the front.

Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari.

Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima doing a three-wheeler at the kerb coming out of Turn 10.

Lewis Hamilton also had one of his wheels bouncing off the ground at the same corner.

A Toyota, taken with shutter speed of 1/640s and f2.8, at 92mm.

This one’s taken with the same shutter speed and aperture, at 200mm.

Fernando Alonso en route to victory.

Nick Heidfeld again. Photo taken with 1/800s and f2.8, at 200mm.

Some panning shots…

… mostly with shutter speed of 1/800s.

Felipe Massa.

Giancarlo Fisichella.

Lewis Hamilton in action.

I think that’s Timo Glock with his crash helmet’s visor partially opened. For some wind maybe ;p

Robert Kubica.

Jenson Button.

I panned this one. Success rate was probably about 1% lol… Awesome view of the hot discs.

Check out the side engine vent of this Toyota. I think there were some flames in there. Cool!

I switched to my wides to show you the view from where I was standing. I stood there as early as 3 hours before the F1 flag-off. I was shooting the other races (more in my next post).

The crowd. Check out the other photogs! Huge bazookas everywhere.

Let me show you some more photos of the Safety Car.

The 2008 F1 Safety Car is based on the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.

The SL63 AMG has 525 horses packed under the hood, and it does the century sprint in a blistering 4.6 seconds!

And…
Pictures of the heart-breaking moment for all Kimi’s fans…

Can you see the sparks on the track?

Kimi replacing his steering wheel…

… and leaves his (damaged) Ferrari parked in front of us.

The Iceman waiting to get a lift back to the pits, after the race was over.

His Ferrari was picked up too.

In my next entry I shall talk about the whole F1 fever in Singapore. It was massive. I’ve got more photos, and a short video clip. Stay tuned for that one :)

Footnote: I told ya this entry was photo-heavy. I bought my one-day only walk-about ticket for SGD108, and I had to pay an additional SGD25 to have the tickets (bought another for my friend) delivered to my doorstep in Malaysia. Like I said, no regrets. If I were to go again next year (likely!), I’d go for the same type of ticket anytime! I did not attend the qualifying.

19 Comments »

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1. my firefox hang kei trying to load all these photos -_-

   pssst rak thai again before you-know-what?

   Comment by Julee — October 1, 2008 #

2. semua nampak sama saja.. to me lah :p

   selamat bercuti!

   Comment by angel — October 1, 2008 #

3. Since when you bought the freaking bazooka 702002.8?

   Comment by Jason — October 1, 2008 #

4. Very nice shots. Must have been a great feeling being so close to the track. I am itching to buy a telephoto lens but a lower range one. No $$$$.

   Comment by Kelwin — October 1, 2008 #

5. This is far better than reading the F1 mag. :)

   Good shots. :)

   Comment by jemima — October 1, 2008 #

6. Julee – Oh come on, are you serious? You must have alot of other memory-taxing programs running at the same time. Can’t be my photos :p On Rak Thai, hey, cool! Let me know! Btw, my you-know-what is still long more to go!

   Angel – Haha! Selamat bercutii!! ;p

   Jason – A few months ago. I bought it for less than RM2k ;) Used first-generation Sigma (not even the Macro version). Good deal eh?

   Kelwin – Thanks! Yes the feeling was absolutely great. Earplugs were a must! Lower-range teles? 70-200mm F4.0? A photog in front of me was shooting with that lens, his photos were razor-sharp! Btw, I bought my used 70-200mm f2.8 (Sigma) for less than RM2k. The paintwork on the body looks worn, but it’s metal (heavy!) and its optics are still good. I was thinking of selling it after the F1 is over. Now I’m still not sure if I wanna sell it off that quickly :p

   Jemima – Thank you Jemima! You’re too kind! Glad you liked it! ;D

   Comment by narrowband — October 1, 2008 #

7. Pity Kimi lost it at the end… @#&%!

   Comment by sweewon — October 1, 2008 #

8. I’m still lost with all the shutter speeds and apertures and what nots… but great pics as usual!

   Comment by rinnah — October 1, 2008 #

9. YENG AR YENG AR YENG AR YENG AR!!

   Glad you “took my advice” LOL! Your photos are really good! Sama, if not better, standard with the Official F1 website. :P

   Pity you weren’t able to capture the drama in the pitlane haha…

   Comment by day-dreamer — October 1, 2008 #

10. Wah right in front of Kimi! jelesnya…hahaha

    I’m wondering whether there’s any large screen being set up in this circuit. I don’t see any in the TV. If takda how to follow the race? Don’t tell me buta-buta like Sepang(some area don’t have large screen).

    I might go next year. Hehe

    Comment by Che-Cheh — October 2, 2008 #

11. Sigma eh, nice. :D

    Comment by Jason — October 2, 2008 #

12. I was thinking “kimi again?” just seconds b4 he crashed… haha. I’m a bit… skeptical about his ‘icy’ face… as I prefer humble and capable driver… But nice pix la! I have a mid-range 70-210 but not really have put it into good use yet. Maybe I’ll go for football match soon… :D

    May I have Heidfeld and Kubica full res pix for my wallpaper? With ur stamp? Thanx Thanx…!

    Comment by allison — October 2, 2008 #

13. certainly massive. i was there but didnt watch the race, not a fan. but then again, i think the fever will die down after a while… just like malaysia.

    Comment by zewt — October 3, 2008 #

14. Wow beautiful shots!! totally worth the sgd108. when you reach, the front area still got space? or you had to push your way to the front even 3 hours earlier? lol

    Comment by Evelyn — October 3, 2008 #

15. I like your shots…so clear!

    Comment by Trish — October 5, 2008 #

16. Nice pics weh…

    when are u updating next? hehehe

    Comment by Lobak — October 13, 2008 #

17. Nice pics… and your lens is good. :)

    Comment by Neo — October 14, 2008 #

18. A very good bargain for your ticket, because I expect higher…

    Comment by Mic. Tham — October 24, 2008 #

19. Sweewon – Don’t curse on my blog k! :p

    Rinnah – I think by now you’ve already known much more about all the terminologies and technicalities, right?

    Day-dreamer – Pitlane? Wow I’ll have to be like everywhere! How can I run here and run there take photos in two places at the same time :p

    Che-cheh – Sure got screens set up around the circuit la. In addition, you can also buy a portable device that lets you watch the race while walking here and there, and keep updated with the race progress. I didn’t check out the price, because I knew it wouldn’t be cheap! You should go next year, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

    Jason – Yes, works wonderfully!

    Allison – Sent to your email! Without stamp! :) Yes go to a football match and put your tele zoom lens into good use!

    Zewt – Yeah the fever is seasonal, understandably…

    Evelyn – When I reached the front row already taken up, I could squeeze through la but no point lah, since I had a good view over their heads already anyway…

    Trish – Thank you!

    Alicia – Haha, updated, updated! ThanksS:p

    Neo – The lens is good, yes. But under-utilized now especially after F1. You want to buy? Hehehe…

    Mic – Yes it was a steal! I was so happee… (though some of my friends got theirs for free!… grr)

    Comment by narrowband — October 30, 2008 #

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