The new Ordos International Circuit, based in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, will host the first Superleague race to be held outside of Europe on October 3rd. The 2.3 mile, 18 turn track will be the first of two back to back events in China with the second coming a week later at a so far, undisclosed venue.
With Chinese Club Beijing Guoan present in the line up of Superleague teams, it will hopefully provide appeal to locals keen to show their support. This has also fuelled speculation that the other Chinese round will be held in the nation's capital.
The circuit cost £66 million to build and has be given FIA level 2 status. It will host a warm up car race before the arrival of the Superleague Fomula, the first international event to be held there, in the shape of a Chinese Touring Car Championship event in September.
The decision to hold the tenth round of the Superleague Formula at Ordos has delighted Guang Zhong Yun, the Mayor of Ordos City, who told the media, “Ordos City welcomes Superleague Formula in 2010. We are working hard to ensure that China's first SF event is a successful and memorable one, which we believe will encourage the area's development of culture, sport and economy. We invested nearly 80million Euros to build a FIA Grade 2 circuit in 2009 and that brand new venue will be ready before September, making SF the first international racing series to compete at the Ordos International Circuit. I hope the championship, teams and drivers enjoy their time and hospitality on offer in Ordos this October.”
Robin Webb, the Competitions Director for the Superleague Formula said in a statement, “We're extremely excited to be announcing these groundbreaking events in China. The Ordos International Circuit is a magnificent, brand new facility and we're proud to be the first international series to visit. Our debut outside Europe will be a significant moment in the championship's history and one which we hope will bring the Chinese football and motorsport fans out in force.”
If the two Asian rounds this year prove to be successful then it could mark the start of more non-european Superleague races taking a place in the future and expanding the appeal of the unique racing format worldwide.
