BMW-Sauber back Singapore street race

BMW-Sauber team chief Mario Theissen has welcomed proposals for Formula One to be taken to the streets of Singapore. Last week F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone was said to have discussed the idea with a number of Singaporean-based groups prepared to host a Grand Prix as early as next year. According to the Today newspaper, architect Hermann Tilke – responsible for the circuits at Sepang in Malaysia, Manama in Bahrain, Istanbul and Shanghai – is thought to have already designed a street layout for Singapore.

"I don't know how likely it is to happen, but we would certainly welcome it, absolutely," Theissen told espnstar.com. "Asia is the fastest growing and developing area in the world. We would always support at least one more race in Asia."

Ecclestone was quoted as confirming that he is in talks with several interested parties but nothing had been finalized. Reports suggest that staging a Formula One Grand Prix race through the streets of Singapore would cost upwards of US$35 million.

FIA president Max Mosley, has also endorsed the notion of Singapore staging a race. "Singapore is a vibrant business region with a huge motorsport fan base and it would be a welcome addition to the sport," he said last year.