Supercar Club Hong Kong may have started out with modest ambitions, but the scope of its activities has steadily grown. When the club was first established in 1999 by a group of friends, the goal was to bring together owners of luxury sports cars with professional race drivers and other enthusiasts.
Club CEO Paul Yao says the club's founders wanted to provide a 'social and technical platform' for owners of Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes and other luxury vehicles to share views and experiences.
However, knowing that members didn't invest HK$3 million or more in high-performance cars just to talk about them, Yao took the next logical step: he gave owners an opportunity to hone their skills behind the wheel and 'explore the limits of their cars in a safe and controlled environment'. This, of course, ruled out use of the Tolo Highway and the Eastern Harbour Corridor.
The club began organising a series of track days and driving clinics at approved circuits. At these events, which continue today, amateur drivers receive instruction and technical assistance from experts.
'[Over the years], we have done a good job helping professional drivers in motor sports, but I also want to help amateurs who are keen to upgrade their driving skills,' Yao says.
In 2003, the club's activities took a significant turn when organisers in Macau said they were interested in starting a regular race for luxury road cars. The proposal gave Yao and his members a new focus and the club became much more involved in competition.
