It is an amazing, visceral punch to the senses being trackside for a FORMULA 1 race that even the uninitiated can appreciate. But while I’m not fussed about who wins the driver’s championship (unless it’s Daniel Ricciardo, in which case I’ll unleash my inner-Grand Prix expert), I’d give my left hubcap to be at the 2017 FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX in September.

That’s because FORMULA 1 in Singapore isn’t just about the race. It’s a destination experience, and Singapore is one of the world’s great destinations. For race fans, the SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX offers them the opportunity to pursue their passions both at the track and away from it. But what about the people doing the racing? What do they think about the first night race on the FORMULA 1 calendar?

Bernie Ecclestone, the man behind FORMULA 1 for 40 years, called the race the “crown jewel” of the sport when Singapore was added to the roster of race hosts in 2008. Many of the drivers agree with him. The 2009 world champion Jenson Button, for example, hailed the circuit “one of the wonders of modern sport”, while serial world champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari said the track “feels like a classic”.

Niki Lauda is racing royalty and his opinion carries considerable weight.

“For me, it’s the best race of the season,” says the Austrian maestro.

“It’s an incredible event because it’s a night-time race shown at 2pm in Europe, with pictures that nobody has ever seen before.”

Few races have garnered as much respect and generated as much anticipation as the Singapore Grand Prix, given there’s really no other race like it. Combine a street circuit that snakes between the city’s spectacular skyscrapers, the surreal sense that running the race at night brings, the gruelling nature of the circuit and the heat and humidity the drivers must endure, and what you get is an exciting challenge and a visual smorgasbord.

“It’s one of the toughest races of the year, to be honest,” says Vettel, who has won in Singapore four times.

“It’s very long, the full two hours. There’s no space for mistakes and the race just seems to go on forever.”

Martin Whitmarsh, the former director of the McLaren Mercedes team, identified why Singapore had become such a prestigious event on the race calendar.

“It’s a showcase event for our sport,” he said. “And it’s a race that perfectly symbolises modern FORMULA 1.

“It’s a brave departure from tradition that boldly works. It manages to retain all the traditional elements that makes a Grand Prix so magical, but the fusion of its oriental setting, glittering skyline and demanding high-speed course make it feel more like you’re watching a Hollywood movie than an international sport. And that’s fantastic.”

Christian Horner, the director of the Red Bull team for whom Australia’s rising star Daniel Ricciardo drives, says Singapore is an “incredible” race.

“It’s a great challenge for the drivers, it’s the most physical and the most mechanically demanding race on the calendar now, and always lasting two hours in duration,” he says. “It has established itself as one of the highlights on the calendar, and we’re always delighted to be going back there.”

There are several reasons drivers love the race, one of them being tightness of the circuit. Drivers have to get up close and personal to the walls in places and it gives them a buzz to navigate those areas unscathed.

“I’m a racer, so going so close to the walls, especially after the white bridge, gives me goosebumps,” says Ricciardo, referring to the famous Anderson Bridge. The track has 23 corners, six more than the average FORMULA 1 circuit. This translates to about 4800 gear changes to complete the race, far more than, say, Silverstone in the UK (2000 changes).

The drivers also revel in the challenge of competing at night.

“You can see the flaming exhausts and disc brakes glowing at night,” says Button. “It is a spectacle.”

It helps that the track is fitted with nearly 1,600 lighting projectors and each projector carries a 2000-watt lamp that lights up the circuit about four times brighter than a stadium.

“Singapore is not missing anything,” says former double world champion Mika Hakkinen. “The fans are very close to the cars. Everybody likes to come here. It is a very demanding track; very hot and humid. It is a physical and psychological challenge.”

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR GRAND PRIX EXPERIENCE

GET IN EARLY: Planning ahead will help you maximise your enjoyment of the event.

Study the ticket options, work out track vantage points and decide how you will get to and from the track each day. Booking early can save you money through early-bird discounts.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS: As the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. Singapore is an equatorial country so choose light, cool clothes, comfortable footwear, and carry a light rain jacket. Ear plugs are essential because the sound trackside is formidable.

BONUS BEATS: Race-goers are in for a treat with an all-day-entertainment program featuring international headliners, dazzling productions and delightful roving performances. After the final track activity for the day, the action moves to the Padang stage where established music stars and up-and-coming talent will help you put all that adrenalin coursing through your body to good use. This year, catch performances by Calvin Harris, Ariana Grande, The Chainsmokers, OneRepublic, Seal, Duran Duran, George The Poet, Lianne La Havas and more!

LOOK UP: Don’t miss the spectacular fireworks displays that rip into the sky when the chequered flag comes down. The best vantage point to catch the fireworks is in Zone 4 of the track precinct, along the Esplanade Drive.