OCTOBER 19, 2002
Ecclestone goes to China
The circuit is being funded by the local government which wants to promote the idea that Shanghai is the automobile capital of China and the planned Shanghai International Motor City development will feature not only the racing circuit but also car factories, research and development facilities, exhibition halls and motor museums. There are also plans for engineering colleges which will feed the need for engineers in China's new automobile industry. The aim is for the new city to become the largest car manufacturing district in Asia by 2007 with output expected to be around one million cars a year. There has already been investment in the area from Mercedes-Benz and General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota are all talking to the Chinese authorities.