29 Mar 2018 Pan Delta GM Stewart Tan interview: Pan Delta will not be interrupted
As the 2018 Pan Delta Super Racing Festival Spring Race draws to a close, the fans are still savouring the excitement that was in front of their eyes just a while ago. With nearly 200 competiting vehicles, over 2,000 personnel and more than 20,000 spectators, Pan Delta proved its popularity and the staff members once again proved their capabilities. With Zhuhai International Circuit's upgrade and transformation work about to begin, Will Pan Delta be affected? What will be Pan Delta's future? How will the strong ZIC team develop? ZIC General Manager Mr. Stewart Tan, the GM of Pan Delta, is going to tell us more about the present and future of Pan Delta.
"Pan Delta's operation will not be interrupted." Stewart Tan immediately provides an answer that will surely calm the hearts of all Pan Delta fans. "Our upgrade and transformation project has already been approved, at the moment it is in the design process, including the blue prints, progress schedule and planning. It will not affect Pan Delta's normal operations. Even on the day work begins, we will also request the design company to avoid affecting the operation of Pan Delta. I guarantee Pan Delta will operate as usual. The worst thing that can happen is a change of date. The fans and race teams do not have to worry." He further explains, "The details of the project are similar to what we have announced. We are still going to have museum, theme park, hotel, team workshops, race car R&D centres, automobile cultural area...etc."
2018 Pan Delta has had a lot of changes compared with previous editions. Stewart Tan explains. "First there is the establishment of Speed Hero. In the past Pan Delta has always had motorcycle races, but it was never a proper intellectual property. From last year, we felt the change in the motorcycle market, so we decided to create an intellectual property for this race. Once we have the IP, this race can expand and develop. Fans can then recognize, understand and follow it."
Another major change for 2018 is the adoption of a one make tyre for both Circuit Hero and Speed Hero. "In the past we have always refused sponsorship from auto related parts. We hoped to leave this area to the teams." Stewart said. "But with the development of the races, we found out that many teams were not able to find good tyres or the good tyres were either too expensive or their service were not up to standard. This has became an obstacle in the development of the races." Therefore Pan Delta went out and signed with Pirelli. This not only resolved the service issue, but it also made the races more fair and more exciting. "This is a real win-win-win. The teams get discounts, the sponsor gets a platform and Pan Delta gets more exciting races."
The technical adjustment among Circuit Hero classes is another focal point. Stewart states, "More logical classifications means the teams performance are more even, their investments are more logical, too. In the Spring Race we have 11 races from 9 classes. In the future we will try to maintain the races' spectacle, limit the number of races and allow the fans to watch as the races, but at the same time, increase their involvement in our interactive activities. Really making the event for all comers and grassroot racing."
While ZIC is actively creating the new Pan Delta IP, it is, as the first ever motor racing circuit in China, also using its rich experience in operating and constructing a race track, to take part in other new circuits' conceptual and design work. "We hope to see more motor racing circuits built in China to better provide services for the fans. We are using our experience to help our friends finish construction of their circuits as soon as possible. This is good for the whole industry." Stewart said. "There is no such thing as the master losing his business after the apprentice has become the master. Although there are many racing circuits under construction in the country, but there is still plenty of room. Prosperity for the entire motorsports industry is real prosperity." For example, Zhengzhou International Autodrome (ZIA), which will finish construction this year, ZIC helped them construct a management framework and conducted a lot of training. From the endurance races early in the year, ZIA have been sending people over for internships, they are really participating in the Pan Delta race events. "Theory alone without practice is not enough. For this race they sent 8 people over. They are at our various departments, our managers will show them the ropes and try to get them to understand everything about the race operations."
ZIC not only exports circuit design and management experience. After years of operating Pan Delta, ZIC also amassed a lot of race organization and operation experiences. Since last year, Pan Delta's operating team have taken part in the operation of other races like the FRD LMP3 series. This year the scale will be expanded to include FRD LMP3 series, Renault Clio Cup Asia, Asian Formula Renault Series, MINI Challenge Asia...etc. There are nearly 30 such projects either confirmed or under discussion. "Apart from the 3 or 4 project that we will manage entirely, for other projects we will export staff members, they will bring our management experience and give opinions on site."
From operating a venue to organizing a race, ZIC and Pan Delta are the two most successful examples. Now both are exporting their knowledge. Stewart himself is surprised by this. "I never thought this side of the business will develop so quickly. More than 10 years ago, ZIC was so-called 'China's Huangpu Military School of circuit racing', now it is the gathering point of Chinese motorsport professionals. Whenever a place wants to build a circuit or organize a race, the first thing they think of is to get people from Zhuhai. But motorsport is a combined business and it cannot be done by just 1 or 2 people. Now we are exporting comprehensively to help other circuits and race events build up their own systems. It is very meaningful for this stage of the Chinese motorsport industry."