Whitmarsh expects 'electrifying racing'

Martin Whitmarsh is full of praise for the night race held on the Marina Bay street circuit © Sutton Images

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Martin Whitmarsh says he expects the DRS to deliver some "truly electrifying racing" at the Singapore Grand Prix.

As a street circuit, Marina Bay has bucked the trend in supplying overtaking opportunities due to wide sections of track and long straights. After Jenson Button climbed through the field to third in Belgium and second in Italy, Whitmarsh said that he was encouraged by the pace shown by the McLaren, and that the DRS should see more overtaking throughout the race.

"We go to Singapore feeling very encouraged about our performance potential," Whitmarsh said. "I also think we're set to continue the trend we've witnessed so far this season, with DRS enlivening races that hitherto would have been somewhat processional.

"At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, the reality is that we're fortunate enough to have two drivers who are never satisfied to merely sit behind another car; but the addition of DRS means that we should expect some truly electrifying racing this weekend. The track is wide enough to support close and exciting wheel-to-wheel racing and I sincerely hope that's what we see this weekend.

Whitmarsh also had plenty of praise for the unique Singapore race, describing it as "one of the sport's modern wonders".

"In just a few years, the Singapore Grand Prix has become a classic Formula 1 event - the circuit and facilities are truly world-class and the setting and atmosphere of the race make it one of the jewels of the calendar. If circuits like Spa, Silverstone, Monza and Monaco represent the epitome of classic Formula 1, then a circuit such as Marina Bay has, I think, quickly established itself as one of the sport's modern wonders and greatest success stories."

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