Tag Archives: Shanghai Grand Prix

Motorsport, Podcast

Stunning F1 Debut for Zhou Guanyu Sparks Talk of Shanghai GP Return in 2022

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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.

Continue reading Stunning F1 Debut for Zhou Guanyu Sparks Talk of Shanghai GP Return in 2022 →
Motorsport

F1 in China: a view from the fans

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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.

Peng Wen
Peng Wen

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 →

Motorsport

Corruption crackdown in China provides road bump for luxury car makers

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McLaren is the latest company to join the ranks of the top-end car market in China, two years after starting production worldwide. Dealerships opened in Shanghai 10 days ago, and in Beijing last week (pictures here), with new showrooms opening this week in Chengdu and Guangzhou.

mclaren-p1_01With around 30,000 new millionaires in China created each year, plenty of people can afford these models, though the ultra-luxury market (which includes the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and Maserati) is estimated at 5,000 per year in China. Of more concern is the fact that growth – as fast as 100% annually in recent years – is expected to slow significantly. In addition, these car are often in the news for all the wrong reasons, another sign that sales may fall off. Continue reading Corruption crackdown in China provides road bump for luxury car makers →