Prestigious Formula One Comes to Shanghai

October 25th 2002 (FriedlNet.com) - Shanghai this week became the latest addition to the prestigious Formula One motor racing circuit when the Shanghai International Circuit Co. Ltd signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone, boss of Formula One Management Ltd., backed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Shanghai would then be entitled to host races for seven years upon the expected 2004 completion of the 5.45 kilometer F1 race track, on which work began last week in the northwestern suburb of Anting, an important car manufacturing district, home to Volkswagen’s China operations. In addition to the F1 track, a hi-speed eclipse track will be built for other racing events.

The F1 track was designed by Germany-based Tilke Co., whose founder Hermann Tilke also designed the Malaysian circuit which was added to the Formula One matrix in 1999. The race track will be built to look like the Chinese character “”, meaning “to rise” or “higher”, according to project manager Lorenz Schneider of Tilke Co. because “the circuit will bring higher challenges to the racers.” Building costs are estimated to run up to $240 million, with the course being able to accommodate about 200,000 fans.

FIA’s president Max Mosley said Shanghai was chosen over other mainland cities because of its ability to build a high-quality track, its infrastructure and its abundance of hotel rooms. The city’s bidding was backed by the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), providing for the financial security of the bidding activity. According to officials, the cities of Beijing, Wuhan and Xian are also planning to build motor racing tracks, but the chances of those cities of hosting a F1 event are now basically zero until Shanghai’s contract runs out in 2010.

The F1 deal is just another high-profile event in a growing list of sports happenings coming to China, with Beijing hosting the Olympics in 2008 and Shanghai hosting the ATP Tennis Masters tournament next month. Obviously China has learned from past failures, as this is its second attempt to hop on the F1 circuit. In 1998 Zhuhai in the southern province of Guangdong was to be host to a race, which was called off when the track failed to meet international safety standards.

The Formula One season comprises 17 grand prix, 11 of which are staged in Europe. Earlier this month the FIA welcomed the Gulf state of Bahrain into the F1 family. Moscow is also currently building a course outside the city limits to be completed in 2003 with hopes of being integrated into the global F1 fold.

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