Ticket prices of the first V8 Supercars Shanghai Round to be held in 2005 were announced on Tuesday, and they are much more affordable than those for Formula One.

V8 Supercars, one of the world's top-ranking car racing events originating from Australia, declared in July it would add Shanghai to its 12 venues in the coming five years. The first race is scheduled for the Shanghai International Circuit from June 10-12, 2005.

Tickets for the three-day races will be divided into six categories ranging from 128 yuan (US$16) to 980 yuan (US$119). The lowest price for one day entry is 68 yuan (US$8), according to event organizers Shanghai Greenland Group.

"We are trying to make it a sports event for the broad public," said Group Vice-President Zhang Xinguo. "We will make sure auto sports fans can afford the game.

"Activities will be held during the race to promote understanding of the sports."

An exhibition of classic cars and a racing model contest are also scheduled to be held in February.

"V8 is different from Formula One (F1). Where F1 is regarded as a money-burning game for the upper classes, V8 is regarded as a game for ordinary people," said Zhang.

"The development of China's auto sports and culture needs a lot of fans. We hope V8 will contribute to it," said Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Sports Administration.

There will be an estimated 100,000 spectators at the Shanghai International Circuit. Greenland and Shanghai Media Group (SMG), China's media giant, signed a contract on Tuesday on co-operating in broadcasting the event in China and in another 70 countries or regions around the world.

"SMG will sign contracts with other TV stations to form a network which means the event can reach families all over the country," said SMG President Li Ruigang.

More than 5,000 Australians are expected to be among the 100,000 or more people at the first race in Shanghai.

"We have acquired rights of the event's market promotion and operation in the coming five years in China," said Zhang.

"Sponsorship fees and other incomes from the race belong to us. Most of the money will be used to help build auto sports fan clubs and provide lower-price tickets and better service to people," said Greenland Group President Zhang Yukun.

The V8 Supercar Championship Series has been a popular race and also a kind of lifestyle for 46 years. In 2003, more than 1.5 million people attended V8 events throughout the world. In 2004, 18 million people from 70 countries were able to watch live coverage of it.

(China Daily 12/30/2004 page5)