Formula 1 is wanting to add a second Grand Prix in China to the schedule as part of their efforts to increase the fanbase in the world’s most populous nation.
The sport has held a Chinese Grand Prix in the financial capital of Shanghai since 2004, however, given the vast size of the country, the spectrum of fans able to attend the race is reduced.
Therefore, owners Liberty Media hope to apply the same strategy as they are in the USA by adding a second event in a different location, to accommodate those in the other major cities like Beijing.
“We would love to have a second race here,” F1’s Head of Global Sponsorship Murray Barnett told Xinhua news agency.
“Probably not in the short-term, given how congested the schedule is already, but we’d certainly love to figure out a way to have another Grand Prix here.”
Attracting interest hasn’t always been easy with the 2018 race initially marked as provisional, pending a new deal which was eventually agreed until the end of 2020.
Liberty also announced a new partnership with Lagardere Sports in 2017, a marketing firm with specialist knowledge of China.
“We’re looking at a number of different things to try to generate more interest on a local basis,” Barnett continued “We can’t just be here for the three days of the Shanghai Grand Prix.
“We need to have a year-round presence here and be much more locally relevant in order to really establish a big fanbase here.”
This year’s race will also mark a very special occasion with the 1000th Grand Prix taking place in Shanghai.