My trip to Singapore 2012
I have dreamed about my trip for many years and last week my dream has become true. I’ve gone to Singapore Gran Prix. For me it was a very special moment, a night race, my first one after many races alive, but also my birthday week end.
I’ve begun my trip leaving home on Wednesday, flying Lufthansa from Catania to Rome, Frankfurt, Singapore for almost 24 hours, i’ve landed at Singapore Changi airport on Thursday afternoon. I was feeling really excited, my first visit in Singapore and a visit to support my driver outside Europe, really far from home.
My first visit to the track has been on Friday. At noon I’ve tried to verify where was my seat in my stand. I’ve really felt disappointed when I’ve realized that the track has sent me the wrong tickets. I’ve always chosen the grand stand tickets in front of Michael Schumacher’s garage. My seat this time was in sector A19 in front of Pastor Maldonado’s garage …
For me it was simply … panic.
It was raining, or better there was a storm, however I’ve decided to go to the tickets shop to try to buy the new tickets. I’ve asked simply to change my seat but it wasn’t possible, so I’ve bought new tickets. Now my seat was in sector A9, in front of Schumi’s garage.
I wasn’t in late for free practice 1 but I had to run.
As I arrive in my seat I realize that my view now was the view I’ve dreamed about for years, I could see Michael wearing his race suit, his helmet, his gloves and entering in his WO3. I was finally happy and satisfied. So I’ve turned my fan vision tv on and I’ve connected it with Schumi’s board camera. That’s another thing I love to do. I usually follow Michael’s races from inside his car, so I really “feel” his race, I drive with him, I come close to the barriers, I move my neck and I pass through the finish line.
Free Practice 1 begins at 6 o clock p.m. local time. It’s evening in Singapore and you can realize how unique is the track, lights and colors are so special and your feelings become very special too. You feel like at your first race and if you think you’ve followed many races you can realize how special is Singapore. “Nothing else comes close” you can read …. and it’s true. You can almost touch the cars or at least feel them.
In FP1 Michael finishes 14th.
FP2 starts at 9:30 p.m. with the track is completely dry. Schumacher finishes 11th.
The first day is over. I try to go to my hotel but it’s hard to go to sleep. The feeling I have is unique, I wish just keep staying in my seat waiting for my driver…. But I go to bed.
And it’s Saturday. It’s really hot and damp. Free practice 3 begins at 6 p.m. with the installation laps. Michael ends 10th.
At eight o clock the qualifying session begins. I feel very excited. The atmosphere is unique and I can “feel” my driver’s garage. In Q1 Schumi marks 1:49:994 and then 1:49:546, he passes in Q2. Q2 begins. Schumi seems to be out of the top ten and in three minute FP3 is over. He goes out his garage and marks a huge 1:47:823 … Wow! He’s 9th and he’s in Q3.
Q1 begins. The Mercedes choses to stay in the garage to keep a fresh set of tires for the race. Hamilton gets the pole position, then Maldonado, Button, Alonso.
And it’s race day!
In the morning I go for a walk at Marina Bay Sands. What a unique place! I even have a rest on a boat …
At four o clock I reach the track.
Everybody in my stand is waiting for his driver, I’m also waiting for mine … dreaming about a Singapore 2013.
The drivers parade begins. For me it’s always a very special moment. Michael has many fans in the stand and many photographers are around him, it’s hard to take pictures. He seats in his car, he smiles, he greets us in the stand.
And finally the starting grid. Schumi is just in front of me, so I take him a few pictures. Then I go down next to him and shout him all my support and that of all his true fans. He smiles and enters in his WO3.
The green light is on, my heart is in my throat … the race starts.
His first pit is at lap 12 and at lap 13 he marks purple in sectors 2 and 3….. I’m dreaming.
At lap 38 when Schumi is eleventh the safety car comes in.
At lap 39 …. The disaster.
Michael has a problem in decelerating his car and he crashes over Vergne. I look at the crash from my fan vision broadcasting from inside his car.. He goes out. Both drivers are fine. Schumi apologizes.
My race is over!
What has happened? Can this crash influence Michael’s contract? Is there a chance for Michael in 2013? I hope so.
Everybody knows that Vettel has won the race, followed by Button and Alonso.
I’m still on my stand, I’m not able to follow the podium celebration under fireworks …. I can’t celebrate. I simply go.
Three hours later I’ve known of the penalty that the stewards have give to Michael … ten positions in Suzuka.
The stewards do their job, I can understand. But I’m a “die hard” fan and I’ll support Michael forever, whatever happens.
The newspapers have written a lot against my driver, however this is my dream, the last one that I’ve shared with my dad before his recent death.
So no dark memories, just happy feeling inside.
Today it is Friday my dark memories have won. Is it possible that my dream is out? 21 years spent following a person you really admire, a very special person, a unique pilot but above all an excellent man and now everything suddenly stops?
2012 has already stolen my my dad that has died on 29th of march, can 2012 stole me also “MY KING”? Why? I don’t know, but I’ll accept.
I can just say … if Michael stops I hope to come to Brazil to support him until his last race, that’s the maximum I can do for him to let him know that I’m proud and proud to wear his t-shirt “I love Schumi” and to shout him once again “Simply thanks Michael, thanks for existing, thanks as for you my dream has become true. Nothing can change the certainty that you won’t go out of my life as you’re in love with your “tifosi” as we’re in love with you. Whatever your future will be I’ll be with you: NEVER GIVE UP!”
Singapore, September 23th 2012
RITA XIUME'
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GRAZIE RITA PER LA TUA PREZIOSA COLLABORAZIONE!
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