Ex-Formula One driver Alex Yoong believes Australia’s V8 Supercar Championship Series has tapped into an emerging motorsport powerhouse with its decision to race in China from next year.

Yoong, who was a special guest in China today for the landmark announcement that a round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series will be held in Shanghai on June 10-12, 2005, has won multiple races throughout Asia.

He said international motorsport events were still in their infancy in China but the supporter base was growing strongly and authorities were aggressively pursuing events.

“What you have to remember about China is that most people are first generation car owners, so motorsport is a completely new experience for them,” said Yoong, who is racing in the V8 Supercar series with Australia ’s WPS Racing.

“I won a race in China in 1994 and the crowd was reasonably muted as I believe it was one of the first international motorsport events in the area.

“But the crowds are growing dramatically as they are more educated about motorsport

“I feel China will be a huge motorsport market and it’s exciting to think about how they will respond to the V8 Supercars.”

Yoong, who was born in Malaysia, is regarded as an ‘overseas Chinese’. His grandfather is Chinese and he still has relatives living in the country.

“I guess that may give me a bit of an edge over the Aussies when it comes time to race in China,” said Yoong.

“Some will find China a big culture shock but that may be moderated by the fact we are competing in Shanghai, which is a modern city.

“Still, I think the Aussies will be surprised by the number of cars on the road and the size and pace of the city.”

Yoong is the only Asian driver in the V8 Supercar Championship Series. He has had three test days with millionaire Australian businessman Craig Gore’s WPS Racing team (sponsored by Wright Patton Shakespeare Financial Group) as a forerunner to driving in the prestigious Sandown and Bathurst V8 Supercar endurance events in Australia later this year.