Plans to build a grade 1 circuit in Guangzhou, capable of hosting Formula 1 (F1) races, have been announced by the city’s officials.
Upon completion, the circuit would become the second such Formula 1 (F1) track in China. The first, in Shanghai, is scheduled to host the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix later this month. The circuit opened in 2004.
Guangzhou’s upcoming track – which will include a comprehensive racing sports park – reportedly comes with a price tag of 20 billion yuan. A timeline for the new track’s construction has yet to be made public.
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The proposal was announced as part of the recently released Guangdong Province 2024 Key Construction Project Plan, which includes more than 1,500 provincial projects worth a combined 8.1 trillion yuan (US$1.12 trillion).
Motorsport’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), is the certifying authority for F1 tracks. To obtain an FIA grade 1 licence, a track must meet strict criteria.
F1 races can only take place on grade 1 tracks, according to FIA rules. Macao’s Guia Circuit, which usually hosts Formula 3 races, is a grade 2 track.
