Singapore Grand Prix sizzles on and off track

Formula One boss Bernie Eccleston walks on the paddock with his wife, Fabiana Flosi. AFP

The Singapore Grand Prix served up a heady mix of on-track action and off-road entertainment for its 2014 edition. The Formula One racing action kept fans at the edge of their seats, while the pre- and postrace entertainment had them standing up, cheering and dancing the weekend away.

Before the current Formula One cars roared down the streets of Marina Bay, a different breed of race cars entertained the crowd. If you enjoyed the Ron Howard movie “Rush,” you would have been thrilled to see cars from that era roar down the circuit. The FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship and Masters HGP combined to showcase Formula One cars form 1966 to 1985. The Masters Historic Racing, with cars using 3-liter Formula One cars from the 1970s and 1980s, rivaled their modern counterparts with their sheer sound and fury. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia also held a race round in Singapore, with the all-new 460-horsepower Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type 991 racing cars.

Fans also witnessed a parade of Ferrari sports and GT cars in a charity run on the circuit. Ferrari’s flagship model, the F12berlinetta, was presented, as well as Ferrari Testarossa, and 458 Italia, in red and brilliant gold.

Once more, the world spotlight falls on the Lion City. AP

Meanwhile within the circuit park, a lineup of world-class entertainment acts kept the crowd on their feet even as the race cars were cooling off. The main act was Jennifer Lopez. She took to the huge Padang Stage for the postrace concert. Robbie Williams crooned the night away after Saturday qualifying session.

On the Village Stage near the circuit’s Turn 1 area, several stellar acts entertained the assembled race fans. From Britain’s Suburbia came the United Kingdom’s most successful music duo Pet Shop Boys. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe performed their electronica and dance hits “West End Girls,” “Opportunities” and “Always on My Mind,” as avant-garde costumed backup dancers gyrated on the stage.

Another class act was nine-time Grammy Award winner John Legend. He sang his hits “Ordinary People,” “Save Room” and “Green Light.” For his last number of the night, Legend played solo on the piano as he sang his 2014 hit “All of Me,” dedicated to his wife, supermodel Chrissy Teigen, who unfortunately was not around.

Six-time Grammy winner and Emmy winner Ziggy Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley, also performed on the Village Stage.

The innovative multimedia entertainment and race package that is the Singapore Grand Prix weekend continued on its winning ways. It was an exciting way to host the Formula One race, adding memorable events for all visitors.