THE first roar of an engine was heard around the Marina Bay Formula One street circuit yesterday, but this was no high-speed F1 machine.
It was the safety and medical cars that did laps around the 5.067km track, ahead of today's practice sessions.
Senior officials from the world motorsports governing body, the International Automobile Federation, also went around the track to make sure everything was ready for the big weekend.
It was also a busy day at the pit building - where the team garages and media centre are housed - yesterday.
Engineers put the final touches to the F1 cars to get them ready for the weekend.
The various pit crews also went through rehearsals of pit-stops.
This is when cars come in for refuelling or tyre changes. Naturally, it was the Ferrari crew that elicited the most attention, with over 20 press photographers scrambling for a good picture of the Tifosi.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone also dropped in to visit the facility, and looked pleased as he was given a tour by Singapore organisers.
Free practice will begin today at 7pm, and it will be the first time many Singaporeans get to hear the unmistakable roar of an F1 engine.
I - and I'm sure countless others - can hardly wait.