A motorsports fan shares his experience at a Geely Speed Challenge Race in China.
Despite starting near the back of the pack, things are looking good as I speed past the cars on the inside.
But it is the corners that a race is decided upon and the Shanghai Circuit has its day of reckoning early, pushing drivers through a 90-degree corner followed almost immediately by turns two and three, sending the vehicles corkscrewing around.
With a queue of cars in front of me at turn three, I hit the brakes bleeding off the revs and speed too much and allow the drivers on the other side to get the advantage.
Hi-tech
Soon the pack disperses and I successfully retake my position from the car that started behind me. I hold him off for about three laps and slowly gain on the Geely Emgrand GL in front.
Pushing hard around turn nine I aim to overtake on the inside, however, the track is slick and my GL loses traction spinning me off the circuit. I narrowly avoid being hit by the car behind. The car stalls and it takes a while for me to get back on the track, now in the last position.
For me, the race seems to be over, but it never is until the chequered flag is raised. Near the front, drama unfolds as the leader spins off only to be hit by the second positioned car ending his race – at least I can say I finished, even if it was last.
For drivers in the Geely Speed Challenge Race, part of the Geely Emgrand GL Super Cup, it represents a rare affordable way to participate in motorsports in China.
Geely Auto holds the two-day Geely Speed Experience Camp in various cities around China providing motorsport and Geely fans a chance to try a Geely GL race car along with other vehicles from the Geely Auto range. Free to register and join, participants get basic race training along with driving experience.
Each experience camp attracts hundreds of participants and the best drivers get invited to Geely Speed Challenge Race events held in Zhuhai, Chongqing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Changsha, Shanghai and Ningbo, which is a four-day experience.
2018 saw the introduction of the Emgrand GL Race Car. Based on the standard car which entered production in 2016, it is the first time a Geely 3.0 era vehicle has been used in Geely motorsports.
With a drag coefficient of just 0.29 and class-leading dynamics along with a 1.4 turbo engine that won a ‘China Heart’ 2017 award as one of China’s top 10 engines, the standard GL is an ideal starting base.
Modification
Race modifications include a body kit to increase aerodynamics and downforce along with improved cooling for the engines.
International Motor Trading Agency (IMTA) is an authorised dealer for Geely cars in Bahrain.
IMTA has the following Geely models available for sale in Bahrain with Pre-VAT offers: the new 2019 Emgrand 7 model is now at only BD4,595* before VAT, the Emgrand GS 2019 is now at only BD5,795* before VAT, and the Emgrand X7 Sport 2019 is at only BD6,395* before VAT.
For more information, contact 36288004/17680110, or visit www.geely.kekanoo.com, or download GEELYBAHRAIN application on Androids and Apple phones.
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