Night fever: October 2022 events

Singapore Grand Prix
September 30-October 2

The last two editions of the Singapore Grand Prix were cancelled due to Covid, but the drivers return to the Marina Bay Circuit this year for round 17 of the Formula 1 World Championship. In January, F1 extended its contract with the circuit, putting it on the calendar until at least 2028.

Singapore became the first Asian country to host an F1 race on a street circuit, and the first ever night race in 2008. Sebastian Vettel holds the record for most wins here clinching victory five times, but Mercedes remains the most successful constructor with four wins.

The 3.15-mile street circuit is one of the hardest tracks, lit up by 1600 spotlights, and the temperatures in the cockpit can reach up to 50°C. With the most number of corners of any F1 track bar Jeddah, the 23 turns pose a challenge as the pilots often find themselves avoiding the walls, providing very little margin for error. Angled at nearly 90 degrees, Turn 5 is an important corner as it leads into the longest straight.

The grand prix spans 61 laps, and in 2019, a third DRS zone was added. The activation points are at turns 5, 13 and 23. Starting from pole can prove beneficial in the Lion City as eight of the last 12 winners started from P1. Last time around, however, Sebastian Vettel took the chequered flag despite Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc scoring the fastest time at qualifying.

Tyre choice and management will be crucial at this stop-start circuit. It will also be interesting to see how the new cars with their 18-inch tyres will adapt to the track. Haas’s Kevin Magnussen has held the lap record since 2018. Will he be outclassed by the teams at the front?

Fernando Alonso won the first GP at this venue in 2008; this year will mark the soon to be ex-Alpine driver’s 350th F1 start.

MOTOGP – ARAGÓN gp
MotorLand Aragón, Spain, September 16-18

This Spanish circuit runs for just over three miles with 17 turns. Marc Márquez holds the record for most wins and poles, five each – and the lap record.

NASCAR CUP – BRISTOL  
Bristol Motor Speedway, Tennessee September 171

‘America’s Night Race’ will be back in Bristol for a second round after having raced there in April. The previous race was won by Kyle Busch and his Toyota, winning by 0.33sec. The track has a steep banking and an all-concrete surface, and has been called one of the loudest NASCAR circuits.

WRC – RALLY NEW ZEALAND
Auckland, New Zealand, September 29-October 2

After being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and left out of the 2021 calendar, WRC returns to New Zealand. Gravel roads take the drivers through forests and by the extensive coastline, with Hauraki Gulf serving as a scenic backdrop. The 13-round series will then conclude in Spain and Japan.

DTM – Hockenheimring
Hockenheim, Germany, October 7-9

As the circuit celebrates its 90th anniversary, the season finale takes place at the track which has hosted the most DTM races. Cars can reach up to 165mph on this 2.8-mile track and drop down to 35mph while coming out of the hairpin at Turn 6.

WORLD SUPERBIKE – PORTUGUESE ROUND
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão, Portugal, October 7-9

Round nine of the championship returns to the Algarve a year after champion Toprak Razgatlioglu narrowly won the first race, and contender Jonathan Rea dominated the second by winning with
a gap of 5.4sec. This could prove pivotal in the title fight: three rounds remain.

 

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More events

Sep 2-4 F1 – Zandvoort, Netherlands
Sep 23-25 DTM – Red Bull Ring, Austria
Sep 30-Oct 2 GT World Challenge Europe – Barcelona, Spain
Oct 9 Supercars  Bathurst, Australia