New format for trucks on the track
Formula One fans looking for a new fix might want to check out the China Truck Racing Championship for a bigger, heavier and more furious motor sports spectacle.
As F1 in China deals with growing alienation from grassroots supporters, the CTR Championship, a home-grown event, is emerging as a promising alternative with closer local connections and crowd-pleasing motorized mayhem.
Inspired by the successful European Truck Racing Championship, this year's CTR features a new format, which will see 14 trucks from seven teams compete in time trials on paved circuits instead of racing one-on-one on muddy off-road courses.
For the first time in 12 years, the three-leg series is welcoming four European drivers from the Czech Republic's Buggyra Racing. They will join four selected local teams to race in the championships for club and driver titles.
Teams and racers will be ranked according to the number of laps they finish in limited time at each stop.
This year's competition also allows teams to build and modify trucks with different manufacturing partners under specific technical standards, whereas it previously offered the same trucks for every team.
The new format is expected to attract greater interest from fans and sponsors, said Li Shangxiong, deputy chairman of CTR's organizing committee.
"This year's championship incorporates the format and standards that have been adopted by the European Truck Racing Championship and has introduced European expertise for greater foreign exposure," said Li.
"We believe the new version will be more challenging for racers and more entertaining for spectators."
Buggyra Racing, an eight-time FIA European Championship winner, is providing technical support in truck modification and driver training.
The team will also provide trips and training courses for this year's top-ranked Chinese drivers at its Czech-based racing center and eventually build a training facility with CTR in China.
"Our company and the Buggyra brand are here to help move interest out of European boundaries and offer valuable expertise to our partners in China," said former racer and team founder Martin Koloc.
"Our common activities won't be solely within China. We are presently in negotiations to export the Chinese model of truck racing abroad and reform the European Truck Racing series."
The CTR series kicks off at the Zhaoqing International Circuit in Guangdong province in early August and moves to Tianma International Circuit in Shanghai one month later before concluding at Beijing's Golden Port International Circuit in October.
sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 07/18/2015 page11)
