Tuesday January 20, 2004

SIC: Shanghai F1 race will be sensational

KUALA LUMPUR: Already 70% completed, the massive and ultra modern Shanghai Circuit, which will host China's first ever F1 race in September, aims to give the world an excellent race.

Built under a visionary project “Shanghai longs for F1 while F1 is in need of Shanghai”, the circuit aims to woo 200,000 local as well as international racing fans to Round 16 of the F1 World Championships, which will be held on Sept 26.

A partner to Sepang International Circuit (SIC), success for China's inaugural F1 Grand Prix will be rejoiced by their Malaysian counterpart as both have set out to help each other to promote the two GPs as well as in the development of motorsports in Asia.

The SIC general manager, Ahmad Mustafa, said: “Looking at the progress of the construction and the efforts that they are making to prepare for the event, I am sure it is going to be a sensational Grand Prix of China.”

Ahmad, who visited the circuit last week, admitted that he was amazed by the speed and progress of the circuit's construction, adding that it was a totally different picture when he visited the track about a year ago.

From a wide open space he saw last January, Ahmad said in a press statement issued yesterday that there was already a massive 30,000 capacity main grandstand and an almost ready pit building, waiting for him at the circuit.

Besides glass-walled paddock clubs, a media centre constructed over the starting grid, team offices, which are built on water, and a secondary grandstand arena with a capacity of 20,000 spectators have been constructed, while works on the 5.4-km track is still in progress.

“Everthing looks on track and ready. It is going to be a very beautiful circuit,” said Ahmad.

He said that similar to the Malaysian agenda, Shanghai International Circuit were established in February 2002 to be a catalyst for motorsports development in China and Asia.

With 15 turns and five straights, the layout of the track is built to spell out a favoured Chinese character named “Shang”, which means “ascend”. The circuit is located in Anting town, Jiading District, on the north-western outskirts of Shanghai.

Construction of the circuit began in October 2002 and all works will be completed in March. And as required for F1 and all other races sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the circuit will be inspected for homologation in May before its first national event in June. – Bernama

News

SIC: Shanghai F1 race will be sensational