Q&A: Zhang Tao, CAMF

Wuhan, China’s car manufacturing hub, is hosting a motorsport festival with a difference this week. Over six days, nine categories – including the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO and Chinese Formula 4 will be in action on an exciting street track based around the city’s main sports stadium.

It’s all being organised by CAMF, the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sport of China, and Zhang Tao, the man behind the event, gave an insight into some of the benefits it will bring to further developing motorsport in China.

A great track and lots of activities so what’s going on at the first Chinese Automobile and Motorcycle Sports Festival?

“From the Chinese federation we have a circuit event including drifting, GT, endurance, touring car, Formula 4 and trucks, nine championships in total. It’s a contract with the city of Wuhan for five years starting from this year. We wanted to make a festival for the motorsport fans in China and outside the track with have set up exhibition areas including for the car industry to show the new vehicles that are coming. By bringing people who are fans of road cars with us we hope they can be the motorsport spectators of the future.”

In terms of the track, it’s an exciting layout that’s been created?

“We’ve built almost a new track compared to the rehearsal event we had last year. It’s 2.984 kilometres with the longest straight of 818 metres. We’ve fully resurfaced the track so we have a permanent track to meet all the safety standards required by the FIA. We are hoping for an exciting weekend of racing.”

What are your main objectives?

“When F1 came to China in 2004 it helped China to make a big step in motorsport. WTCR is also a world championship and we want another big step because teams can show the facilities and the drivers can show their techniques on the track. We want a cooperation with an FIA championship so the drivers, mechanics and teams in China can improve their skills. I believe if we can have good communication between the WTCR and the Chinese teams hopefully they can work together in the future.”

How many spectators are you expecting in year one?

“We have a six-day event during the national holidays and we expect 100,000 spectators coming to watch the racing and the other shows.”

In terms of benefits what will the WTCR bring?

“It’s the top level of touring car racing with many car brands. We saw in the past how the China Touring Car Championship teams learned from the WTCC teams and they improved each year. We want the same from WTCR and we hope there will be a lot of cooperation between the teams, sharing of engineers, information and ideas.”

And what legacy do you hope this event will create?

“We have 697 marshals, 190 drivers and 46 racing teams so a lot of people working here, learning and improving. It’s a big event and we’re very excited.”