AGF sowing seeds for China's international exposure

SEPANG, Malaysia: The AGF Asian Formula International Open, held in Malaysia last weekend, may have been a gamble, but organizers say it is a crucial step in giving China motor sports more exposure abroad.

"Lots of people said it is a big risk," said Liu Jianquan, secretary of the organizing committee. "We made big investments in a bid to hold this stage in Malaysia. And in the short term, we cannot see any return from the huge expenditure.

"But I always believe you will gain the reward one day from what you have contributed."

In its third year, AGF, sanctioned by the International Automobile Association and Federation of China Autosports, is the highest-level domestic formula-racing event and has become the first to move abroad.

"Our ultimate goal is to develop the event into a continental one and see AGF competitions around the Asia-Pacific region. After it gets mature, we hope half the season's competitions will be held abroad.

"Motor sport in China, especially the formula race, is still in the early stages of development. China does not have many high-level formula drivers. That's the reason I initiated the AGF three years ago."

AGF includes the nation's best formula drivers aged between 14-20, but Liu said it will take years before one of them emerges in an international tournament.

"It is a long-term goal for AGF to produce local formula drivers. We select the drivers from a basic level. It is a fact that they are not able to compete with the world's top drivers.

"It is very important for us to make the AGF international and give local drivers more opportunities to compete with drivers from around the world.

"AGF is a pioneer in the sport, helping to develop the grassroots level. I hope more and more people will join us to support China's formula sport."

Liu said AGF is making rapid progress every year as more sponsors, drivers and media have gotten involved.

"I believe the future is bright for this tournament. We are expanding our presence every year. So I think it's the right time this year to bring the event abroad."

Once-in-a-lifetime experience

China has been a destination for major international motor races like F1, A1 and Motor GP. But local drivers are not yet skilled enough to participate in those international events.

So when AGF roared off as part of the Sepang Circuit last week, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the locals.

"It's a great experience for me," said driver Zhang Zhiqiang. "When I thought I was driving a car on a track that Alonso, Schumacher and Raikkonen have competed on, I was so excited.

"It has always been my dream to become a F1 driver some day. I know it's still far away but I am glad to see that I have had a very good start of my career."

Another driver, Zhang Dasheng, a two-time national karting champion, was also deeply satisfied with his first competition abroad.

"It's amazing. The track is great and I never had such a feeling before," Zhang said. "Many world superstar formula drivers started their careers from karting races and then went abroad to compete in higher-level events."

Secretary Liu hopes the teenage AGF drivers can recreate the success story of F1 phenom Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton's pre-F1 career was the stuff of legend. He won several karting series, including the European Formula A championship in 2000. After a year of learning in Formula Renault, he won the 2003 British Formula Renault championship with 10 victories and 11 pole positions. After a year of learning in the F3 Euroseries, he won that series in 2005 with 15 victories and 13 pole positions.

In 2006 he did not even need a year of learning to win the title in his rookie year in the GP2 series, an F1 support race series.

"Hamilton competed in lower-profile competitions for almost nine years before becoming the big star in F1 racing.

"I am looking forward to our young drivers emerging in a major international tournament in the future after more years of polishing in AGF and other races."

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page23)