Circuit Overview


Thomson Road Circuit was Singapore's most notorious street racing venue, hosting the Singapore Grand Prix from 1961 to 1973. Using sections of Upper Thomson Road and Old Upper Thomson Road, this 3.023-mile clockwise circuit became legendary for its extreme danger and spectacular racing. 

With corner names like Devil's Bend, The Snakes and Murder Mile, it claimed seven lives during its 13-year history before safety concerns forced its closure. 

Today, parts of the former circuit route pass through Thomson Nature Park, where remnants of Singapore's racing heritage can still be explored.


Circuit History


In 1960, Singapore devised a Grand Prix as part of the "Visit Singapore – The Orient Year" campaign to boost tourism and promote motorsport in the region. The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix was held on 16-17 September 1961, promising entertainment and excitement for both local and foreign spectators. The event was jointly organised by the Singapore Motor Club and the Ministry of Social Affairs, as the island lacked a permanent racing facility.

Initial plans for a street circuit running through Thomson, Whitley, Dunearn and Adam Roads proved unfeasible due to massive traffic disruption to residents. After consideration of other existing circuits, it was decided that a new circuit would be created along the old and new Upper Thomson Road. The Sembawang circuit, belonging to the War Department, had to be expanded to include sections of what is now known as Old Upper Thomson Road.

The first Singapore Grand Prix was won by Ian Barnwell of Britain driving an Aston Martin DB3S, with the motorcycle race going to Chris Proffit-White on a Honda 4. Almost 20,000 spectators turned up for the first day's races, while a 100,000-strong crowd packed along the sides of the roads to watch the speeding cars and motorbikes on the second day. The event proved so successful that Singapore's tourism sector posted record revenue and visitor numbers in 1961.

The event was renamed the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1962 to 1965 when Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia. After independence in 1965, it reverted to the Singapore Grand Prix name. By 1972, there was a record entry of 430 for 15 events - 284 entries for motorcars and 146 for motorcycles, with participants from 10 countries including United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.

The Golden Years

The circuit gained international recognition when it was listed on the World Motor Racing calendar in 1963. Winter in Europe brought racers to Asia, with Macao being the first Asian racing destination in November. The next stop on the Asian racing calendar was the Tasman Series in Australia and New Zealand, followed by the Grand Prix events in Singapore and Malaysia around March and April.

Notable winners included local heroes like Yong Nam Kee who won in 1962 driving a Jaguar E-Type, and Hong Kong's Albert Poon who triumphed in 1963 and 1965 with a Lotus 23. However, it was New Zealand's Graeme Lawrence who became the most successful driver, winning three consecutive races from 1969 to 1971. "It was the most dangerous circuit that I had driven on by that stage of my career," Lawrence recalled. "But that was part of its challenge".

Corporate sponsorship was necessary to sustain the annual Grand Prix event. Rothmans of Pall Mall was a major sponsor till 1968. For the year of 1968, Rothmans donated $25,000 and other companies contributed a total of $63,000. The sponsorship amount received in 1971 was $211,350 and in 1972, $349,365. By the early 1970s, races were televised with live commentary across Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

At the event, a closed circuit television was set up to provide better viewing and excitement for spectators and better value for sponsors. A half-hour film in colour was also made and televised in Asia, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Germany.

The Dangerous Circuit

The Thomson Road circuit earned its fearsome reputation through several notorious sections. The track was described as "a one-of-a-kind. Flanked by monsoon drains, lined with lamp posts and often accompanied by the wettest of weather, the narrow track was by no means intended for the faint-hearted racer". Seven people died due to racing accidents in the 11 years of the Singapore Grand Prix.

Racing formats evolved over the years. Initially, both motorcycle and car races were 60-lap affairs covering approximately 180 miles. This was changed to a 20-lap preliminary race and a 40-lap Grand Prix from 1969 to 1971. And in 1972, the event was changed to a single 50-lap event.

The Final Chapter

Safety concerns reached a tipping point after consecutive fatalities. At the 1972 Grand Prix, Lionel Chan, the nephew of local racing champion Chan Lye Choon, died after falling into a ravine while in the 1973 edition, Swiss competitor Joe Huber died after crashing his car into a cable pole. Racing was banned in Singapore after the 1973 Singapore Grand Prix with concerns that it promoted reckless driving. The government noted that seven deaths occurred over the 11 years of the event, and the difficulty of implementing adequate safety measures for the undulating terrain that characterised Thomson Road circuit.

Australian Vern Schuppan's victory in a March 722 in the final 1973 race marked the end of an era. It would be 35 years before Singapore hosted another Grand Prix, this time under floodlights around Marina Bay.

Circuit info


This is a historic circuit which is no longer in operation.

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Location Information


The former Thomson Road Circuit route remains largely intact today, though it now serves peaceful purposes. Old Upper Thomson Road, where much of the challenging section was located, passes through Thomson Nature Park, which opened in 2019. The park preserves both the natural environment and cultural heritage of the area, including remnants of the former Hainan Village.

Devil's Bend, the circuit's most notorious corner, can still be identified near the entrance to Upper Peirce Reservoir Park. The narrow, V-shaped turn retains its challenging character and has gained a reputation for supernatural sightings, earning it continued notoriety long after the racing ended. The area around the former Circus Hairpin at the junction of Upper Thomson Road and Yio Chu Kang Road is now controlled by traffic lights and features a dual carriageway.

Visitors can access the area via Upper Thomson MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line, with buses 163, 167, 169, 855 and 980 serving stops along the former circuit route. The Thomson Nature Park offers hiking trails including the Macaque Trail and Langur Trail, allowing motorsport enthusiasts to walk parts of the legendary circuit while enjoying Singapore's natural heritage.

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