Home>News Center>Sports
             
     

    Chinese Grand Prix may be most significant race in F1 history
    (Agencies)
    Updated: 2004-09-20 09:16

    Next weekend's inaugural Chinese Grand Prix could be the most significant race in the history of Formula One.

    That may sound over the top, particularly with both constructors' and drivers' titles won already by Ferrari and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, but it is what Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug believes.

    "In my view this is a very important race, probably the most important race in the history of motorsport," declared the German.

    Shanghai, with a breathtaking circuit and a sellout crowd of at least 150,000, is one of two debut grands prix this year -- the other was Bahrain's first race in the Middle East -- that allow Formula One to boast of being a truly global championship.

    "It is a new era and I think we will have more spectators worldwide for television than for any race before...especially in America I think there will be a lot mentioned about the race," said Haug.

    Mercedes are part owners of McLaren and, like other carmakers in Formula One, they are licking their lips at the prospect of putting on a show in the world's most populous nation and fastest-growing market.

    Even if the average Chinese, with an annual salary of $1,000, can only dream of owning a car, the market is potentially massive although there are fears of a margin-sapping glut emerging as new plants come on stream.

    'Follow the money' has long been a mantra for the costly glamour sport and comparisons have even been made between Formula One's efforts to win over China and the 19th century Canadian gold rush.

    "China is the Klondike, it's the new frontier," BAR boss David Richards, whose team are partnered by Japanese auto giant Honda, told Reuters.


    CAR SALES

    "The new regions, especially China with 1.3 billion people who for the first time are coming into contact with Formula One, that's the future," said BMW motorsport head Mario Theissen.

    "I will be very cautious about it being the most important," said Ferrari boss Jean Todt. "But I've been in Shanghai for the opening of the circuit because we were opening our showroom as well and it's unbelievable what they have done, just unique.

    "This year we will sell about 50 cars in China, hoping that we will sell 100 cars next year.

    "It will take a long time before we will be able to compare China to the United States, which is over 30 percent of our market, but countries like China, India and Russia definitely have a huge potential."

    Theissen said China was already BMW's fastest growing market in the luxury bracket, with more sales there of the top-of-the-range 760Li V12 than in any other country.

    The Munich carmaker's sales in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan grew to 16,620 cars in the first eight months of this year -- an increase of 23.9 percent over the same period in 2003 -- with almost half of them built in China.

    "In terms of market power, I think nothing so far compares with this race," said Theissen, whose company have a local joint venture -- BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. -- which has been making 3 and 5 series models for the last year.

    "I think it is unique and we are really looking forward to it," he added.

    Honda and the world's second largest carmaker Toyota are well established there while Renault -- which owns 44 percent of Nissan -- have forged a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp.

    Jaguar, whose owners Ford are pulling out of Formula One at the end of the season and selling the team, began marketing in China this year with the first 20 buyers promised that they would have their names put on the grand prix car.


    MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES

    But selling cars is only a part of what China offers to Formula One.

    The other side is the commercial attraction for sponsors, with existing backers eager to increase brand awareness and teams hoping that new partners will be encouraged in.

    "Everybody commercially is looking at the Far East, looking at China, the growth in China, the potential markets out there. It certainly broadens our horizons as a sport," said Richards, whose team is owned by tobacco giant BAT.

    China, with cigarette branding allowed at the race, is a key market for them.

    "It's more about when you talk to companies, they are all looking to expand their markets and China is obviously on everybody's agenda," added Richards.

    "When you say that you have a race in China that certainly raises people's interest levels," he said.

    "I personally think it's more likely to attract sponsors in the West looking to get awareness and a foothold in China. I think it's rare to see Chinese companies who yet understand the potential of Formula One for promoting themselves on a global basis but I'm sure that will follow."

    Jordan, among the tail-enders on the track, have set the pace there with two Chinese sponsors already -- property developer Shoulu-Huayuan and B&Q China.



     
      Today's Top News     Top Sports News
     

    Hu takes over as CPC military commission chief

     

       
     

    China completes orderly power transfer

     

       
     

    Iraq group shows tape of beheading 3 Kurds

     

       
     

    WHO urges sharing of bird flu case samples

     

       
     

    Corrupt land minister expelled from CPC

     

       
     

    Bomb threat postpones Beijing trade fair

     

       
      Safin lifts trophy at China Open
       
      Chinese Grand Prix may be most significant race in F1 history
       
      Shenzhen stretch lead to seven points
       
      Real ready to line up Eriksson
       
      Real in disarray, Arsenal's winning run ends
       
      China, Spain big winners on Day 2
       
     
      Go to Another Section  
     
     
      Story Tools  
       
      Related Stories  
       
    Ticket sales for F1 Shanghai debut soar
       
    China braces for Formula One debut
       
    Italian motoring glamour hits Shanghai
       
    Chinese driver makes F1 history
       
    Button breaks silence over Williams move
       
    F-1 exhibition debuts in Shanghai
       
    Formula One products available in the market
    Advertisement
             
    日韩中文字幕在线播放| 久久久久亚洲AV无码永不| 亚洲AV无码专区国产乱码电影| 亚洲AⅤ无码一区二区三区在线| 人妻丰满熟妇aⅴ无码| 在线观看免费无码视频| 日韩精品少妇无码受不了| 无码人妻精品中文字幕免费东京热| 久久精品中文字幕大胸| 国产成A人亚洲精V品无码性色| 免费一区二区无码东京热| 久久99中文字幕久久| 久久精品中文无码资源站| 日无码在线观看| 特级无码毛片免费视频尤物| 久久人妻无码中文字幕| 欧美精品丝袜久久久中文字幕| 无码任你躁久久久久久老妇 | 台湾佬中文娱乐网22| 无码少妇一区二区| 国产AV一区二区三区无码野战| 久久精品无码一区二区三区日韩| 最近2019中文字幕大全第二页 | 18禁网站免费无遮挡无码中文| 国产爆乳无码一区二区麻豆| 午夜不卡无码中文字幕影院| 中文字幕国产91| 中文无码喷潮在线播放| 天堂资源在线最新版天堂中文| 日韩亚洲不卡在线视频中文字幕在线观看 | 久久超乳爆乳中文字幕| 中文字幕乱偷无码AV先锋| 亚洲爆乳精品无码一区二区| 国产高清无码毛片| 播放亚洲男人永久无码天堂| 免费A级毛片无码无遮挡| 亚洲爆乳精品无码一区二区 | 精品人妻无码专区中文字幕| 精品人妻少妇嫩草AV无码专区| 日韩专区无码人妻| 无码内射中文字幕岛国片|