China on the move into F1 - China on the move into F1 | joeblogsf1 October 20, 2014 by Joe Saward Wei Di, the director of the Automobile and Motorcycling Administrative Center, part of the countrys General Administration of Sport, says that a Chinese group is bidding to acquire a Formula 1 team and that in the next one to two years, China will have its own F1 team. He did not say who was behind the idea. The organisation he heads is the state-run sports organization which serves as the permanent administrative body of the Federation of Automobile Sports (FASC), the countrys FIA-linked sporting federation. It was established in 2002 in order to organize, direct and promote automobile and motorcycle sports in China. These reports were followed by an announcement today from the State Council, Chinas cabinet, that the country intends to grow its sporting sector into a $813 billion industry (yes, you did read that right) by 2025 to boost employment and domestic consumption. A policy document issued by the Council says that private investment will be encouraged, new sports facilities will be built and the government will support the sector. This is part of the current shift that is going on to create what the Chinese are calling a new economy, moving away from heavy industry.
I wouldn't be surprised, man. In the auto industry it's all about China. At least for the europeans. Cars are highly rated status symbols on that side and the middle class is getting richer and richer as we speak. They are creating car brands more rapidly than we see F1 races! I'd love to see that : )
I don't disagree about the potential for auto companies to succeed in the Chinese market, all I'm saying is I doubt the Chinese are not going to be manufacturing their own F1 engines anytime soon. I would be glad to see them get involved in F1, though. The more the merrier and they tend to have deep pockets.
I would take that bet. By the way, you've already lost: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_American_Racers
They already have a driver ready to go... [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-smHPbckA]Stig's Chinese Cousin Attacks Jeremy & James! (TOP GEAR Sneak Peek) - YouTube[/ame]
You even forgot Duesenberg winning the 1921 French GP with Jimmy Murphy. Kudos to Gurney, but like for Murphy, that win was only a one off. I was talking about a Chinese team winning the World Constructors Championship, against a US team. But who knows, Haas GP may be that team, and prove me wrong!
When their F1 flips upside down the stamping will read "Made in China" I hope they invest in companies like Lola and Cosworth.
A close friend of mine travels around the world quite a bit, and he shared with me his surprise when he visited Beijing, and other developed parts of China. They are so much ahead of even countries that were ahead of China back in the early 90s.
Yeap. Maybe those days, people laugh at china and china made products. Today, phones line Xioami and One Plus One as well as Oppo are already troubling both Apple and Samsung here. They certainly cannot be underestimated.
What great news. Clearly, they will have to start by buying and rebadging a European team first. Lotus?
