Zhou Guanyu doubts Components 1 will see many extra Chinese language drivers becoming a member of the collection over the approaching years regardless of his participation within the sport.
The Sauber driver will make historical past this weekend when he turns into the primary Chinese language driver to race in his dwelling grand prix.
Zhou is one in every of solely two drivers from China, together with Ma Qinghua, to have ever participated on the earth championship. Ma drove in Friday follow for Caterham on the 2013 spherical in Shanghai.
Now in his third season of F1, Zhou will lastly get to race in his dwelling grand prix this weekend. Nonetheless he says that there are extra obstacles for younger Chinese language drivers to beat in the event that they aspire to race in F1 in comparison with in the event that they wish to compete as athletes in different main sports activities.
“The largest distinction in motorsports or Components 1 is that you simply don’t get an excessive amount of of the nation’s assist behind [you],” Zhou stated in right this moment’s FIA press convention.
“After all, to be an F1 driver, you want some monetary assist – that’s clear. However I don’t suppose in China now we have sufficient households or people who have the price range and likewise… the curiosity that they will get entangled in Components 1.
“It takes loads. It’s simple to be a racing driver as a interest, however to take this skilled journey, solely 20 of us drivers right here, it’s not a simple one. The quantity of sacrifice and likewise the onerous work behind the scenes for each particular person driver to be there, it’s very advanced. Additionally, it takes lots of time.”
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Chinese language society remains to be creating a motorsport tradition, Zhou says.
“I believe primarily the historical past, the tradition with motorsport solely began 20 years in the past,” he defined. “Should you think about, let’s say, Europe – how a lot ardour they’ve for Components 1.
“Most likely this grand prix will probably be a file when it comes to the tickets. It was offered out in like 20 or half-hour. It was that you can nonetheless all the time discover just a few seats two to 3 weeks earlier than the race, so it’s by no means been like this earlier than.
“However you actually see the nation is rising, but additionally it’s having some excessive inputs, having extra corporations, producers beginning being concerned with totally different Components 1 groups.”
As a consequence of the truth that China’s motorsport tradition remains to be creating, Zhou says he doesn’t count on his arrival in Components 1 to immediate an inflow of extra Chinese language drivers onto the grid any time quickly. There are not any Chinese language drivers in F2 or F3 this 12 months, however the nation’s F4 collection is supporting this weekend’s race.
“I believe to have the ability to have extra [Chinese] drivers on this grid goes to be very tough for the following 5, ten years,” he stated.
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“For instance, an ideal instance: Honda. They’ve this ‘Honda Dream Undertaking’ and you’ve got younger drivers who get picked up from a really younger age and that tradition of motorsport in Japan could be very excessive.
“However for us, we have to construct that and 20 years is just not sufficient. It takes one other most likely 5, ten years to construct in the same stage, then you may attain out to Europe, hopefully, put them within the feeder collection. If they will do nicely, successful races, ending prime of their championship, they will information their technique to Components 1, however I don’t suppose it’s a very simple job for the following few years for any drivers to be right here.”
Racing in his forty ninth grand prix however his first in his dwelling nation, Zhou says he desires to assist encourage younger Chinese language racing prospects to goal for Components 1 sooner or later.
“I’m pleased to be type of the function mannequin on this nation,” Zhou stated. “However nonetheless, I believe you could put effort into that. Additionally having lots of corporations, producers concerned in serving to the younger technology, to information them ahead.
“However let’s see what I can do. Possibly once I retire from racing, I might help extra, however in the meanwhile, I’m simply hoping to encourage some younger individuals, and so they can come a great distance.”
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