BEIJING, May 12 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- NARCAR International Racing Development Co., LTD ("NARCAR"), a sports event operator in China, announced that at 15:30, May 11, 2008, in Sepang Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Asian Formula International Open Competition ended its Malaysia round of racing, becoming the first domestic formula-racing event held abroad. The event was independently initiated and operated by China and all the formula racing cars have home-owned intellectual property rights, making the event the first formula sport born in China.
The first round of finals started at 11:15, May 11. Zhang Zhiqiang, from Hong Kong, led at the beginning, but Luo Zhaofeng, from Henan, China, exceeded him in the sixth circle to finish first. The second round of finals started at 14:15. Zhang Zhiqiang passed cars in the third, fourth and sixth circles and won the championship.
The Asian Formula International Open Competition is positioned to be a continental event upon approval of the General Administration of Sports of China and the Federation of Automobile Sports of China. Each year, the event will be staged in Asia with formula cars provided by Geely Holding Group of China. The racing cars' 1.8-liter engines JL4G18 are independently designed and manufactured by Geely. On the Beijing International Auto Show in April 2008, Geely showcased a higher-level formula-racing car equipped with its latest 3.5-liter V6 engines and 6-gear semi-automatic transmission.
Asian Formula International Open Competition was formally launched in Oct. 2006 and seven competitions were staged in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities in 2006 and 2007, respectively. On April 13, 2008, the Zhuhai race of 2008 successfully came to a close. Thus far, 10 teams have participated in the event with a total of 20 players and yearly applicants exceeding one hundred.
According to the Federation of Automobile Sports of China, the Asian Formula International Open Competition is the only high-level formula racing in China, making it a significant milestone in China's auto sports history. The improvement of auto manufacturing in China has also played a positive role in guaranteeing the normal operations of the event and serves as a solid foundation for the ventures into the international arena.
Zhang Chao
Organizing Committee
Asian Formula International Open Competition
Tel: +86-10-8233-4882 x8822
Email: zcouto@vip.sohu.com
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