Three generations of one new-rich Chinese family are spending the weekend at the racing jamboree. And spending's the word; it will cost a wallet-burning 20,000 yuan
The combination of glamour, excitement and fabulously expensive cars means China's new-rich have taken to Formula One with a passion.
Look at the Gu family, three generations of McLaren Mercedes fans sitting happily in the stands at the Shanghai Grand Prix and owners of no less than three of the luxury German cars.
'We bought four tickets for our family at over 3,000 yuan each, even for my seven-year-old son,' said Mr Gu. 'The whole weekend event might cost us more than 20,000 yuan, but F1 only comes once a year, so it's totally worth the money,' he said. Gu's English name is Champion. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the car dealership owner and property magnate, asked us not to use his real name.
After all, owning three Mercedes in China can attract the wrong kind of attention.
Equally unsurprising, Champion doesn't like to walk.
'The organisation of the China F1 is not that good - parking is very inconvenient. We have to walk to our seats for 20 minutes - some people have to walk for an hour. It's a lot of trouble,' he says.
