Chinese Grand Prix likely to stay after 2010 - organisers

The Chinese Grand Prix is likely to continue in Shanghai beyond 2010 as the city continues its drive to become one of the great sporting hubs of the world, according to the organisers of the Formula One race.

Reported comments by the deputy director of the Shanghai sports ministry, Qiu Weichang, that the city might give up its right to a five-year extension on the Grand Prix after 2010 were lost in translation, said Leon Sun of organisers Juss Events.

"I've spoken to Mr Qiu and he never said the Grand Prix was going to leave China," the general manager of event management at the municipality-owned company told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"I think it's probably some misunderstanding in translation. I would say it's likely it will stay after 2010. Formula One has only been here for five years. To build a spectator base is not easy, it's a long term operation.

"We think Formula One is a very good product, a very good event for Shanghai city so at least from our company's point of view we want to continue promoting and building the event.

"Research shows there are more and more race fans in China, so I don't think we will say no to the Formula One Grand Prix."

Formula One rights holder Bernie Ecclestone said at this October's Grand Prix that he thought the race had a secure long-term future.

Sun, who took over running the grand prix this year, said there would be more "internal discussions" before negotiations over extending the contract beyond 2010 began.

The home of the Grand Prix is the stunning $350 million circuit on the outskirts of Shanghai, which can seat 200,000 fans but has rarely come anywhere close to accommodating that number.

Sun said around 80,000 spectators had turned up on race-day last month, conceding that at least some of those people had received their tickets as a result of a "trade off with business partners".

"But we consider those sales because you move your costs down and you have more promotional materials," he said.

LONG RUN

Briton Lewis Hamilton had the chance to clinch the drivers' championship in Shanghai for the last two years but the race has been shifted to April in the 2009 calendar, a move Sun believed would work out well in the long run.

"In the first half of the year, there are not many international events in Shanghai, the Autumn is very busy," he said. "The first year will always be tough when you change an event but in the long-term view, I think it's a good move."

China's financial capital has lost a round of the motorcycling world championship, the Asian Open golf tournament and the season finale of men's tennis, the ATP Masters Cup, from next year's calendar.

In place of the Masters Cup, however, the impressive Qizhong tennis complex will host a new Masters Series tournament from next October.

Juss has signed up Swiss watch company Rolex as "presenting sponsor" of the event and Sun is confident that, despite the global economic downturn, the city will continue to attract big international events.

"I think for sure there will be more events coming to Shanghai, the only thing we don't know is when and how," said Sun, who will be co-tournament director of the new Shanghai Masters 1000.