All grandstands, except for the Bay Grandstand, will be available then. The cheapest early bird ticket during this period is $498, which will get you a seat at the Padang or Esplanade Waterfront Grandstand.

The Pit grandstand, which was priced at $1,388 last year, is available at $1,188 for early birds.

This will be followed by a second launch on April 20, where Bay Grandstand and three-day walkabout tickets will also be released.

The cheapest ticket for this year's race - $28 for an early bird single day walkabout pass on Friday - will go on sale then.

A total of 72,000 tickets will be available this year - 2,000 more than last year's initial release.

Both parts will start with an early bird release, which will consist of up to half of the available tickets for grandstand and walkabout passes.

Once the early bird allotment in each area is sold out, the remaining tickets will be offered at the regular 2009 rates.

In the early bird release of part one, fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for Turn 1, Turn 2, Stamford and Pit Grandstands with savings ranging from 7 per cent to 14 per cent compared with last year.

However, regular prices are either the same or more expensive, than last year's.