[toggle header=”World Endurance Championship” open=”true”]
The world renowned endurance racing championship is co-organized by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). The series features multiple classes of cars competing in endurance races, with sports prototypes competing in the Le Mans Prototype categories, and production-based GTs competing in the GT Endurance categories. The World Endurance Championship will follow much of the format of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and feature seven endurance races across the world, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with all races being at least six hours in duration. The calendar will include two races each in Europe, North America, and Asia, with a possible future expansion to eight or nine races. The four current categories utilized in ACO events will continue to be used in the World Endurance Championship through 2013: LMP1 and LMP2 prototypes and the GTE category, divided into GTE Pro for teams with professional driver line-ups, and GTE Am for teams featuring a mixture of amateur drivers. World champion titles are awarded to the top scoring manufacturers and drivers over the season, while other cups and trophies will be awarded for drivers and private teams.[/toggle]
[toggle header=”24 Hours of Le Mans“]
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is considered as the world’s oldest active sports car race in endurance racing. It is annually held since 1923 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to race and outlast competitors for 24 hours without sustaining mechanical damage to the car and manage the cars’ consumables, primarily fuel, tyres and braking materials. The endurance of the drivers is likewise tested frequently spend stints of over two hours behind the wheel before stopping in the pits and allowing a relief driver to take over the driving duties. Today it is mandated that three drivers share each competing vehicle. Organised by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the competing teams to race are divided in groups called classes for cars of similar specification while at the same time competing for outright placing amongst all of the classes. Held near the height of the European summer in June, the race begins in mid-afternoon, racing through the night and following morning before finishing at the same time the race started, the following day. Over the 24-hour period modern competitors will complete race distances well over 5,000 km (3,110 mi). The present record is 5,410 km (3,360 mi), recorded in the 2010 race. The race has also spent long periods as a round of the World Sportscar Championship and is presently a round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The race is also known as a leg of the informal Triple Crown of Motorsport which links Formula One, IndyCars and sports car racing to represent a career achievement for drivers. Additionally, it is seen as a leg of the Triple Crown of endurance racing, which links the three largest sports car races together, with 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona forming the other legs.[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Asian Le Mans Series“]Asian Le Mans Series[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Super Formula“]
Super Formula is the premier single seater racing category in Japan. It evolved from the Japanese Formula 2000 series which was established in 1973 by way of the Japanese Formula Two and Japanese Formula 3000 championships. The Japanese racing series have closely followed their European counterparts in terms of technical regulations, but there have been some important exceptions. When European Formula 2 ended in 1984, its Japanese counterpart did not follow suit, continuing to use Formula 2 regulations for another three years, finally switching to the open Formula 3000 standard in 1987. Once again, Japanese and European regulations paralleled one another. It was in 1996 when the International Formula 3000 series became a one-make format to lower costs, and with the Japanese Formula seceding, the name of the series was officially changed to Super Formula. Despite the more technically demanding regulations, Super Formula is considered as a feeder formula similar to the GP2 Series and its predecessor Formula 3000, proving itself as a consistent breeding ground for successful Formula 1 drivers.
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[toggle header=”Japanese Formula 3“]
Japanese Formula 3 is a national formula racing championship that annually takes place in Japan. It is one of the four major Formula 3 championships worldwide that guarantee the winner an FIA Super License. The first Formula 3 championship to take place in Japan was held by the Nippon Formula 3 Association in 1979, which was won by Toshio Suzuki. By 1981, it had evolved into a national-level series, the Japanese Championship, which was organized by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). In 2008, Japanese Formula 3 implemented a two-tier championship system, which gave way to the “Championship” and “National” categories, diversifying the series as an effort to boost driver and team participation.
Visit Japanese Formula 3 website.
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[toggle header=”Japan Super GT“]
The Super GT series, formerly known as the Japan GT Championship (JGTC), is a grand touring car race series promoted by the GT-Association (GT-A). Initially authorized by the Japan Automobile Federation, the Super GT is now directly sanctioned by the FIA. The races, which are single long endurance speed battles of 300 km or greater, are held as part of a yearly series and take place on well-known Japanese race circuits. The series expanded to its first international venue in Malaysia (2000), and an exhibition race at the California Speedway (2004). The Malaysian leg of the series, held at the Sepang International Circuit, was made an official race in 2002 and has become an extremely popular event for drivers, teams and fans alike.
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[toggle header=”Porsche Carrera Cup Japan“]Porsche Carrera Cup Japan[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Audi R8 LMS Cup“]Audi R8 LMS Cup[/toggle]
[toggle header=”FIA F4 Japanese Championship“]FIA F4 Japanese Championship[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Formula Masters China Series (FMCS)“]
Formula Masters China Series (FMCS) is a newly-founded motorsport event which provides young drivers a fresh opportunity to compete in state-of-the-art Formula cars through a cost-efficient approach. Reinforcing a premier racing experience for rookie drivers, FMCS will be staged side by side with some of the most exclusive one-make series events such as the Scirroco R-Cup, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo and Audi R8 LMS Cup. The series will utilize a contemporary car featuring a Tatuus FA010 Carbon composite monocoque chassis powered by a 2.0FSI Volkswagen engine sanctioned by FIA F3 standards. Technical regulations encompass minor tunings which shall be limited to suspension adjustment and tire pressure. A maximum of 18 cars will line-up on FMCS’s grid during its maiden season which shall commence on May 2013, with 6-8 seats reserved for an exclusive development program of Asian motorsport’s new blood. These young drivers will be given comprehensive training for one year which will prepare them as they enter subsequent seasons within motorsport. The series is set to make the management program available to novice drivers each year. The series will be staged in different world-class circuits around Asia.
Visit Formula Masters China Series website.
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[toggle header=”Asian Formula Renault“]Asian Formula Renault[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Formula Pilota China“]
Formula Pilota China was established in March 2011, following the successful Formula Abarth European Series, bringing a fresh concept to Asian Motorsport by providing cost-effective, state of the art vehicles, technology and services. The international series expects to run 15-25 formula cars each season, utilizing the Italian-manufactured Tatuus Formula Abarth FA010 cars powered by 1400cc turbo engines by Fiat, which brings 180 bhp and superior aerodynamics on the circuit. The championship which consists of the International and Asian categories will cover eighteen races over six events across world class racing circuits in China, Taiwan and Malaysia. Formula Pilota China provides a venue and an amazing opportunity for aspiring young drivers to work with a team of experts responsible for successes in various international racing competitions. Part of the championship’s program is to further develop each driver’s utmost potential. The Over-all and Asian Driver Class champions will be granted a four day evaluation at the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy which distinctly opens a door to higher disciplines in Formula Racing.
Visit Formula Pilota China website.
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[toggle header=”China Touring Car Championship (CTCC)“]
The China Touring Car Championship (CTCC) is a touring car racing series based in China. Between 2004 and 2008, the series was recognized as the China Circuit Championship. Initially, the series was split into two categories: the China Production class for 1600cc cars and the Super Production class for cars with naturally aspirated engines. For the 2011 season, a new category, which was tagged as the Super Production Turbo class, was created for 1.6 litre turbocharged cars. Potentially, the series has intentions of joining forces with the Japanese Touring Car Championship, as the promoters of the two series’ are looking to form an Asian Touring Car Championship for Super 2000 cars in 2014.
Visit China Touring Car Championship website.
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[toggle header=”Clio Cup China Series (CCCS)“]
The Renault Clio Cup is a one-make racing series created and managed by Renault Sport. As the name suggests, Renault Clio cars are used, and are grouped in 15 national championships (Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany,Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom) and an International Cup. Since 2008, the championship uses the Renault Clio 197 with an F4R RS 2.0 litre engine. China Clio Cup vehicles are faithfully derived from the production version and redesigned for track racing. The cars are meant to be efficient, fun to drive and cost-effective. Mainly, China Clio Cup series is able to offer an unrivalled price-to-performance ratio in the hatchback sports market.
Visit Clio Cup China Series website.
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[toggle header=”Hong Kong Touring Car Championship (HTCC)“]
In the 1950s, the Hong Kong Automobile Association started its involvement in motorsport activities. Hong Kong racing competitors are amongst the most active in Asia, entering events as far as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Macau, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. In March 1993, the Association organized the first car race in China in the city of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. This was a street race on a closed circuit and was highly successful with a great deal of media interest. Conservative estimates state that over 600 million people worldwide saw the event on television. The Hong Kong Touring Car Championship was established by the Hong Kong Automobile Association in 2002. Currently, races are held at the Zhuhai International Circuit, China, Guangdong International Circuit, China, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia and at the annual Macau Grand Prix.
Visit Hong Kong Touring Car Championship website.
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[toggle header=”Sichuan Touring Car Elite (STCE)“]
Sichuan Touring Car Elite (STCE) was officially launched in 2009 and promoted by Chengdu International Circuit (CDIC) with the purpose of developing the auto industry, motorsport standard and culture in Southwest China. The series received an enormous following amongst professional and enthusiast drivers from all over Southwest China. In 2011, STCE was split into four classes: 1600cc-A for novice and enthusiast drivers, 1600cc-B for experienced drivers, 2700cc for cars between 1600cc and 2700cc in displacement, and the Supercar class for cars with displacement over 2700cc. There are roughly twelve race teams with sixty cars competing in the STCE making it a very exciting and challenging series.[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Asia GT Championship (AGTC)“]
The Asian GT Championship was established in 2004, and was organized and promoted cooperatively by Formula Racing Development (FRD) and Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC). Utilizing high performance cars, the series is considered as one of the premier series within GT racing in Asia. It has attracted a significant number of drivers from around the world who participate in the series every year.[/toggle]
[toggle header=”Asian Formula 3 (AF3)“]
The Asian Formula 3 Championship was a single-seater racing series based in South East Asia. It was considered as one of the national and international Formula 3 championships that form part of an established “career ladder” below Formula One. The championship was sanctioned by the Automobile Association of the Philippines and was promoted by the Asian F3 Association. However, the 2009 series was cancelled due to lack of competitors with some teams dispersing to other Formula 3 series in the region.
Visit Asian Formula 3 website.
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[toggle header=”Radical China Cup“]
Radical Sportscars was established in the United Kingdom in 1997 and its popularity expanded throughout the world. Radical Motorsport (HK) Ltd. was established by KC Motorgroup Ltd. as sole distributor for Radical Sportscars in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The company launched the fastest double-seater Sportcar in China in 2007, allowing Asian drivers the opportunity to try the brand. In 2008-2009, Radical Motorsport (HK) Ltd. successfully ran a one make series for the Radical SR3 car throughout China, attracting drivers from Asia, Europe and Canada.[/toggle]