Singapore 2012

The Singapore Grand Prix has had a chequered history since it's original conception in 1961. Back then it was known as the Orient Year Grand Prix, before being renamed a year later as the Malaysian Grand Prix. The race then underwent another name change to the Singapore Grand Prix, when Singapore became a republic following its ejection from Malaysia on 9th August 1965.

The temporary Thomson Road circuit was then host to the Singapore Grand Prix for the next 8 years, before being cut from the Formula 1 calender in 1973. Various reports and ideas as to the why have circulated since, with the real reason lying somewhere between the rising cost of oil at the time, promoting dangerous driving, the Suez Canal crisis or the 1972 fatalities of Singaporean driver Lionel Chan and Swiss driver Joe Huber.