Rich families support sons' speedy dreams
SEPANG, Malaysia: The involvement of wealthy families has played a big role in China's formula racing development.
Most of the 13 young drivers competing in the Malaysia stage of the AGF Asian Formula International Open are financially aided by their families.
"China only started to develop the formula racing three years ago," said Liu Jianquan, secretary of the AGF organizing committee. "The marketing is still in its infancy so it's very important if a family is willing to support their children's hobby in the sport."
AGF, sanctioned by the International Automobile Association and Federation of China Autosports (FCA), is the first and highest-level domestic formula-racing event in China and is praised by FCA as a "milestone event" to fill the vacancy of domestic formula sports.
"It is common in other countries for family support to play an important role in children's early (racing) development.
"The problem in China is even if a driver grows up and has some achievements in domestic races, he still could not get enough financial support from the marketing. But at that time, families could not afford the expenditure any more as high-level competitions ask for more money."
Liu said the AGF will work with drivers' families to give them more chances to compete and he hopes parents' investments will get paid back some day.
"We hope some of them will become star drivers in the near future and by then they will be sponsored by companies. I believe they will meet the balance or even make money after about five years."
Zhang Changsheng, father of 14-year-old racer Zhang Zhiqiang, said he has spent more than 20 million yuan ($2.85 million) since Zhang got involved in formula racing three years ago.
"As long as he loves the sport, I will give him my biggest support," said Zhang, the boss of a real estate company in Henan province.
"I always believe a hobby is the biggest motivation for a teenager and I think he will achieve something in the future if he keeps pursuing his dream."
Another father, Zhang Linhai, whose Sun Zhang Dasheng has won two national karting championships, used to be a journalist but turned to business in order to pay for his son's career.
"Every year I have to spend about 500,000 yuan on him. It still allows us to compete in a few races. So far I cannot think too much about his future. I am just trying to meet his hobby in the sport."
What the fathers are more concerned about is that China lacks systematic formula training, which will slow down their sons' further development.
"Every one of us hopes our sons are able to achieve something in bigger races, which will make us so proud," said Linhai. "So far the AGF has given them the best platform to compete and improve their skills.
"If they want to step forward, they have to gain more advanced training. But in China there is no professional training system for formula races."
(China Daily 05/14/2008 page23)
