CHINA'S $3.2 million investment to promote motor racing in the southern city of Zhuhai has cleared a vital hurdle ahead of the inaugural meeting this weekend which organisers hope will attract 100,000 spectators.
The four-kilometre street circuit has been inspected by Clerk of the Course for the meeting, Phil Taylor, who declared it fit for racing.
''Although we anticipated a few problems - which there generally are with a street circuit as the roads are open to public traffic 24 hours a day, seven days a week prior to the race meeting - the Organising Committee of the China-Zhuhai Race Meeting andthe City of Zhuhai officials have done an excellent job in getting the track prepared,'' said Taylor.
Taylor is executive director of the Hongkong Automobile Association and Clerk of the Course for the Macau Grand Prix meeting. The Chinese organisers have drawn heavily on his experience with the Macau Formula Three Grand Prix meeting which is run around the streets of the nearby Portuguese enclave.
He has made numerous visits to the circuit, which is located on the edge of the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone, advising organising officials on a variety of topics.
The $3.2 million has been spent on stringent safety requirements which include extensive portable concrete retaining walls around the circuit.
The circuit will be officially closed on Friday at midnight and remain closed until the last race on Sunday afternoon.