By pitpass.com (14/10/2003)
October 14 2003

Lucky Strike BAR Honda star Jenson Button and his boss David Richards have visited the Shanghai International Circuit, due to host its inaugural Grand Prix next year, and given it their seal of approval. "I've never seen a circuit of such scale," Richards told reporters, "and the efforts and technologies put into the construction are just like what we apply to a Formula One car itself. We were told there were 7,000 people working on the site"

Button, who was unlucky to miss out on his first ever F1 podium at the weekend, was equally impressed. "I think it's a very fast track and looks very good for overtaking," said the English youngster, "even more exciting than Hockenheim."

Having seen the track the BAR duo headed to Beijing where they were due to launch the Chinese version of the team's website.

"All I want to do during the two days here is to introduce the BAR Honda team to the national companies who are interested in the opportunities that a partnership with a F1 team can offer," said Richards.

Meanwhile Ralf Schumacher also experienced the Shanghai International Circuit, but on a computer simulation.

"What I got to understand from the simulation drive is that this is among the most challenging races on the F1 tour," said the WilliamsF1 star. "With a tough combination of high-speed and low-speed corners, it poses a real test to the ability of the racers."

China enters F1 at a time when the country's economy is positively booming, with some analysts predicting that the country's economy will overtake France next year and Britain in 2005. Another report predicts that China's economy will overtake that of the United States within twenty years.

It's worth noting that India's economy is also booming and will overtake Britain within twenty years and Japan in thirty. Therefore it comes as no surprise that F1 is currently looking to put India on the World Championship schedule as the sport appears to desert its European heartland.

This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.