New kart racing series aims to speed its way to the future
Print Edition
AS the world’s best drivers headed to Shanghai for the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix last weekend, some 20 young drivers from around the country also headed to the city — to the Kart World at the venue.
The kart drivers, aged between seven and 15, were taking part in the opening leg of 2017 “Future Star” Grand Prix Kart Scholarship Series (GPKS), jointly introduced by Federation of Automobile and Motorcycling Sports of China and J&P Event Management.
In its inaugural year, GPKS has scheduled six races — four in Shanghai and one each in Shaoxing and Wenzhou in neighboring Zhejiang Province. The year-end winner will join Team CRG and compete in the X30 World Final in the French city of Le Mans.
Motor racing is a relatively new sport in China, which hosted the first national kart championship in 1997.
Many find it costly because of its need for top-quality equipment and other thresholds like technical support. So GPKS, as a racing series for youngsters, provides its drivers with karts, technicians and other backup support including professional trainers, so that their families don’t have to spend unreasonably.
“We want to create a fair and equal platform by providing single-branded cars and unified management, while saving costs for the young drivers,” says Li Zhongkang, the event director of GPKS. “We expect our young drivers to achieve great results in international competitions in the future. Therefore, our car, tire and engine providers are all suppliers of European races, which will help our racers to familiarize with European standards.”
GPKS will use cars provided by Italian kart manufacturer CRG. The company’s famous alumni include F1 racers Vitantonio Luizzi and Max Verstappen, who now drives for Red Bull Racing and came in third at the 2017 Chinese Grand Prix.
“Our goal is to cultivate China’s Max Verstappen, who is F1’s youngest GP winner,” says Li.
Hong Kong-based Graft Bamboo Racing will provide technical support to GPKS, including technicians and trainers.
“To be a good driver is not only about driving fast,” says Russel O’Hagan, operative director of Graft Bamboo Racing. “The driver should also understand the car, as well as the relationship with teammates.”
Benny Wu, father of local GPKS racer Kevin Wu, says lack of technical support has been one of the biggest problems for China’s young racers.
“Technicians are responsible for getting the car ready for race and help young drivers adapt to the vehicle. Some of them also know about track designing, as well as driver’s physical and mental training,” says Wu. “However, there are too few such talents in China.”
Wu’s 9-year-old son, Kevin, is a third grader at Shanghai Jing’an Zhabei Experimental Primary School. He first showed interest in cars while driving karts in parks at the age of six. His parents supported his hobby and bought him a kart car last year.
To provide young Wu with professional training, the father reached an understanding with the parents of two other young drivers. The three families hired a technician, a coach and one support staffer for the three kids. They now call themselves a “RGB Racing Team.” They go abroad for competitions, including kart races in Japan and Malaysia.
“To take part in competitions abroad worked out easier as a team,” says Wu. “Our technician also learns from his foreign counterparts during the races.”
Kevin Wu spends a day at the Kart World every week for trainings and competitions. During breaks from racing, he tries to finish his school homework.
“A dilemma that most Chinese parents face is that they are not sure about the future career path of their children if they take car racing seriously,” says the senior Wu. “In some foreign countries, a motor sports enthusiast can find jobs as mechanics or trainer if he or she doesn’t make it as a racer. But in China, it’s different and parents are forced to take a decision on their child’s future after a certain age.”
Cost is also a factor.
Benny Wu says in the first year alone expenses range between 100,000 yuan (US$14,492.75) and 150,000 yuan. A car costs 60,000 to 70,000 yuan, and other equipment like suits and helmet cost between 10,000 and 20,000 yuan. The rest of the money is spent in taking part in the races. If a driver wants to participate in races out of China, the costs automatically go up.
“The more you are into racing, the more you have to spend,” says Wu, who has a business of his own. “We are not sure about Kevin’s future. Currently, we regard racing as an expensive hobby, which, we hope, will help to develop his personality and sportsmanship. It’s also a great way to learn English since the kids have to communicate with their technicians and coaches in English.”
GPKS got a lot of support from the F1 teams during the Chinese Grand Prix. Young drivers visited F1 team paddocks during the race weekend.
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says grassroots racing has always been the best way to detect young talents.
“McLaren has a tradition and is experienced in detecting star racers, the latest being world champion Lewis Hamilton,” says Boullier. “To let kids take part in racing series like this is the best way to promote, cultivate and detect talents.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
