29 Oct 2026 October 17–18: F4 Season Champion Crowned in Zhuhai; Festival of Wheels Opening Round Ignited the Greater Bay Area

From October 17 to 18, the roar of engines at Zhuhai International Circuit (ZIC) cut through the golden autumn sky, marking the spectacular kick-off of the 2026 Festival of Wheels. The Festival of Wheels – Circuit Hero ran alongside the Eastroc FIA F4 Chinese Championship, bringing a double-header of racing action that delivered an adrenaline-fueled annual feast of speed for motorsport fans across South China. Beyond the track, the One-Day Motorsport Study Tour for Families, trade exhibition area and food market opened simultaneously. With the model of “Racing + Experience + Culture”, ZIC transformed a professional race weekend into an automotive culture event for families and young audiences across the Greater Bay Area. Official figures recorded more than 7,000 visitor entries over the two days, demonstrating the strong tourism appeal of the motorsport event.

F4 Season Finale: The Championship Decided in Zhuhai

As the season-deciding finale, the Eastroc FIA F4 Chinese Championship featured a highly international field. Twenty-eight drivers from six countries and regions – China, the United States, Russia, Canada, France and Chinese Hong Kong – lined up on the grid. In the decisive final races, Timur Shagaliev from Asia Racing Team RFN held firm under immense pressure and secured the 2026 overall driver championship one round early. Chen Yu Qi from CHAMP ACADEMY staged a sensational comeback in the last race: starting from P9, he charged through the field to claim victory, his 8th win of the season. This remarkable reversal earned him the runner-up title overall. Yu Yan took the annual third place with consistent top-three finishes on the podium across all four races. In the teams’ standings, CHAMP ACADEMY lifted the overall championship trophy, followed by Black Blade Racing (second) and Asia Racing Team RFN (third).

Circuit Hero Series: Three Tiers, Three Champions

The Circuit Hero series staged its autumn racing programme alongside the F4 finale. Teams and elite drivers from across China fought tooth and nail for honours. The electrifying competition showcased the enduring appeal of this classic race series, as well as the vibrant momentum of motorsport development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Circuit Hero-Three boasted the largest grid of the weekend with 26 entries. Group A1 featured eight GAC Trumpchi Empow racing identical spec machinery; Groups A2 to A6 were dominated by popular street cars including Honda Civic, Honda Fit and BMW 118i. After intense qualifying and race battles on this tight circuit famous for wheel-to-wheel contact, Liang Jiahe from T-1 Racing kept a steady pace from pole position to take the overall win. Liang Minyan and Hu Jinkang from Falcon Racing Academy finished second and third overall respectively.

Circuit Hero-Two became a showcase for heavily modified and finely tuned race cars. Alongside staple machines such as the Civic and Fit, the grid welcomed unique models including Volkswagen Beetle, Renault Clio and Honda Accord. Powerhouses including Gaoge, Jishi, Haifang, K2C Motorsports and Gaoweisi lined up as team squads, while privateers such as Guan Xin and Li Jingfeng took on the factory-backed teams single-handedly. Over two races, Zhong Yongqiang from K2C Motorsports won Race 1; Li Boliang from Jishi Racing fought his way through a chaotic pack to claim victory in Race 2.

The pinnacle class, Circuit Hero-One, gathered top-tier GT4, GTC and TCR race cars. Teams including Zhongshan SRC, Jiangmen Xingrui, Team Master Champ, Haifang and Team ENDLESS, plus private drivers, put on two thrilling races for spectators. In Race 1, Cheng Chunhua from Jiangmen Xingrui delivered a dominant performance, crossing the chequered flag first with a total time of 21:47.861. Race 2 saw 15 laps of bumper-to-bumper combat, with Tao Ye in car No.12 taking the flag to win the second heat.

A Bay Area Weekend: Hong Kong & Macau Fans and Family Audiences Flock to the Circuit

Grandstands and outdoor zones stayed packed throughout the two-day event. The outdoor carnival of Festival of Wheels was designed to be all-age and accessible, extending racing fun from core motorsport fans to entire families. Over the weekend, ZIC welcomed more than 7,000 visitors and over 1,800 vehicle entries. Around 20% of the audience came from Hong Kong and Macau, with dedicated fans travelling all the way from Fuzhou, Fujian Province. This turnout highlighted the nationwide reach of the event and deepening integration within the Greater Bay Area. Private cars with Hong Kong and Macau licence plates were everywhere on site. “Heading to Zhuhai for a race weekend” has fast become a popular leisure choice for local motor enthusiasts from Hong Kong and Macau.

The One-Day Motorsport Study Tour for Families opened to young people aged 6 to 12, attracting nearly 100 children and families over the two days, including many families who travelled specially from Macau. “Normally you only watch races from the grandstand, but here we get access to the pit lane, talk to professional engineers and watch F4 cars start up close. This experience is absolutely priceless,” said a parent from Shenzhen with his child, describing the camp as “a hidden gem”. Children stood on Turn T14 and the starting grid to feel the thrill of racing; stepped into pit garages to watch mechanics work under time pressure; and watched F4 drivers cross the finish line from private hospitality suites. Motorsport culture moved beyond viewing from behind the fence to immersive backstage experience, turning “racing driver” into a tangible career aspiration for young people.

Beyond the Circuit: An All-Access Automotive Carnival

The outdoor carnival of Festival of Wheels catered to visitors of all ages, bringing racing joy to the whole family. At the trade and interactive zone, Pirelli, the official tyre supplier, ran a booth displaying racing tyres and equipment. A lineup of high-performance sports cars and modified luxury vehicles drew crowds. Food stalls and craft beverage stands kept visitors refreshed between races. Traditional carnival games including pitch-pot, ring toss and bowling turned the inter-race breaks into a lively family fair. Whether parents bringing kids to watch racing, young people chasing trendy entertainment, or Hong Kong and Macau families picking ZIC for a short getaway, everyone found a ticket to experience authentic motorsport culture.

As the winning cars took the chequered flag, the first round of the 2026 Festival of Wheels came to a close. Over these two days, ZIC delivered far more than trophies and glory on the podium. It demonstrated how a professional racing circuit can transform high-speed thrills into a weekend carnival for the whole family. The engine noise has faded, yet the bond between the event and the city, between fans and the track, continues to grow across the Bay Area weekend. The gears of Chinese motorsport breaking into mainstream culture have only just begun to accelerate. See you at the second Festival of Wheels round on December 19–20!