I got a message out of the blue this week from Patrick McEnroe – the former US Davis Cup captain turned ESPN commentator and, yes, brother of John – to go on his Holding Court podcast to talk about tennis and China, plus everything in between. It was a lot of fun – you can find that episode here (and see the video clip below). Just days earlier, I had the chance to talk to Chinese F1 driver Zhou Guanyu on my own China Sports Insider Podcast – and he had a lot to say (full show blurb below). We also talked on the show about China losing its hosting rights to the 2023 Asian Cup – and see some of my comments I made on the topic to Reuters here.
Category Archives: Motorsport
Stunning F1 Debut for Zhou Guanyu Sparks Talk of Shanghai GP Return in 2022
In the latest episode of the China Sports Insider Podcast, we talk to Italian race engineer and team manager turned series promoter Davide de Gobbi, arguably one of the most influential people in Asian motorsports. Chances are that if you attended or watched a China-based racing series over the past 15 years, de Gobbi had something to do with it. I’ve been commentating on motorsports events that he’s put on since 2013, including the 2021 Asian F3 Championship, won by none other than new F1 star Zhou Guanyu.
Zhou’s past, present and future fills much of the show, as well as the compelling argument that his stunning start to his F1 career – in the points on his debut in Bahrain last weekend – lends weight to rescheduling the Shanghai Grand Prix (cancelled in 2020-22 due to COVID-19) for late September this year, now that there is an empty spot on the calendar, due to the removal of the Russian GP. Full show blurb below.
Hockey Drama and Steph Hsiao Talks NFL in China
Episode 10 of the China Sports Insider Podcast is another packed show, in which we tackle tennis, F1, and ice hockey, plus hear from Steph Hsiao about the NFL in China.
This coming Monday, December 6, should see some sort of announcement over the make-up of the Chinese men’s Olympic ice hockey team for Beijing 2022 – as well as a final decision on whether or not China will get kicked out and replaced by Norway. After literally years of wrangling over the citizenship issue – i.e. how to recruit foreign-born players for Team China – sources from inside the camp indicate that this decision is coming right down to the wire. Simply put, some players are more comfortable signing away their existing citizenship in exchange for a Chinese passport than others – but the exact make-up of the roster could dramatically affect how China fares against the NHL’s best next February. Listen to the show directly on the player below or go to our landing page on SupChina here. It’s also available on all the usual podcast sites (search “China Sports Insider Podcast”).
Continue reading Hockey Drama and Steph Hsiao Talks NFL in China
Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the podcast yet, I’d really suggest you check this one out (see embed below). The is the eighth one we’ve done and it’s the best one yet. For a start, there’s a LOT going on right now! The Peng Shuai saga has completely blown up everywhere (except for China of course, where it’s heavily censored), Zhou Guanyu is set to make history as China’s first F1 driver as he will partner Valtteri Bottas at Alfa Romeo next season, there’s been a dramatic reversal from the International Ice Hockey Federation which could still lead to China getting kicked out of the Olympics, and we talk to Rowan Simons – who’s been inside the Chinese soccer world for more than 25 years. Full blurb below:
Continue reading Peng Shuai’s “Statement” and What it Means for Tennis in China
Introducing: Second Gear
As the first of a new series of podcasts (and, soon, videocasts/TV shows) that I’ll be hosting with Sean Henshelwood, Second Gear aims to be an unvarnished look at the Asian motorsport scene. For all the undoubted opportunities of the Asian market, it sometimes feels like the sport doesn’t get out of second gear – hence the name – so in addition to all the latest news and analysis, we’ll also be talking about what needs to be done to take the sport to the next level.
Issues discussed on this episode include:
- Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix:
- Reaction to the race
- Ricciardo’s formative years racing in Asia
- Liberty Media’s plans for a second Chinese race:
- The issues with building a sustainable track in China capable of holding an F1 race
- How soon could this realistically happen?
- Fernando Alonso announces plans to build 40 go kart tracks in China over the next five years:
- Is it achievable?
- Can it produce China’s first F1 star?
[Photo credit above: 6th GEAR]
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Xi to stay on, Wanda to get out, Tmall turns to F1 and more Milan misery
Here’s a summary of what you can find in my weekly China Digest for SportBusiness:
Continue reading Xi to stay on, Wanda to get out, Tmall turns to F1 and more Milan misery
电动方程式锦标赛在华仍不热门
早前，首届由国际汽联举办的电动方程式赛车锦标赛(FIA Formula E Championship)在北京隆重拉开序幕。这是全新的方程式比赛，与F1级别相同，同属于国际顶尖赛车赛事，不过动力之源由电动机取代了汽油发动机。在比赛中，领先的两辆车在最后一个弯道的惊天大撞车让这次比赛成功“上头条”。
Legend’s son set to drive for Team China
[UPDATE: Piquet Jr has confirmed on social media that he has officially signed with Team China]. Formula E – the global electric race car series backed by Richard Branson, Leonardo DiCaprio and a host of big names in motor racing – is getting ready to launch in Beijing on September 13 and almost everything is set…except for the identity of Team China Racing’s two drivers. But China Sports Insider can reveal that Nelson Piquet Jr and Ho-Pin Tung are due to be named as the drivers in the coming days.
F1 in China: a view from the fans
Following the recent Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai, won in controversial circumstances by Lewis Hamilton, China Sports Insider spoke to two fans who had been at the race to get their thoughts.
Zhu Xiaoya, 18, is college student who has been following F1 and other motor sports (including GP3) on TV for two years. She traveled from Beijing to Shanghai for the race with her cousin, Peng Wen, a 24-year-old market research analyst, who is a long-time sports fan, but new to F1. Both were attending their first Grand Prix. Continue reading F1 in China: a view from the fans
Weekly Wrap: F1 F-up, Becks is back, Ding’s title bid and Perfect Pitch
The World Snooker Championships have begun in Sheffield, UK, with world number 2 Ding Junhui looking to add the only major title missing from his resume. Having won five ranking tournaments already this season, he continued his good form, taking a 6-3 lead over Michael Wasley in their best-of-19 first round match, and making the highest break of the tournament so far (136). Continue reading Weekly Wrap: F1 F-up, Becks is back, Ding’s title bid and Perfect Pitch