28 May 2019 Pan Delta is a big family --Interview with Zhuhai International Circuit Co Ltd General Manager Mr. Stewart Tan

Article reproduced from “Autoworld” magazine (China)
Author: Mei Xiao-Chun Photos: Zhang Zhi-Cong

On 23 March 2019, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival held its first race event of the year, at the same time welcomed the race event’s 15th birthday. On this drizzling morning, in his office where hundreds of race official passes are hung, we had our interview with ZIC General Manager Mr. Stewart Tan. But rather than say interview, it was more like a friendly chat. I have know Stewart for many years and we bypassed all the formalities and cut straight to the point.

From “Small” to “Big”, from “Big” to “Best”

Mr. Stewart Tan first talked about back when Pan Delta was being established, “As the first high standard racing circuit in China, ZIC is the bedrock of Chinese circuit racing. From Zhuhai Street Race to Zhuhai International Circuit, we have organized Hong Kong Touring Car Race, Macau Touring Car Race, Branded Supercar Race and formula races of various levels. ZIC was instrumental in popularizing motorsport in China. But back then the number of car owners was not big and there were very few motorsport fans, so ZIC only began to establish its own race event 10 years later, which is the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival we have today. In 2006 we launched the Circuit Hero race series within the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, at first, we only accepted entries from mainland drivers, because the competitive levels between mainland drivers and drivers from overseas or Hong Kong or Macau was huge. If they raced together, then mainland drivers had no chance of winning. The first Circuit Hero race had no classes or divisions, there was also no restrictions on engine capacity, horse power and modifications. At that time we just wanted to bring the street racers to the race track. During 14 years’ development, Circuit Hero’s regulations went through many adjustments, today there are 4 categories in Circuit Hero race series: Supercar class, 2.0T Circuit Hero-One, 2.0 naturally aspirated Circuit Hero-Two and 1.6 naturally aspirated Circuit Hero-Three. Circuit Hero-Three is especially targeted towards grassroot racers, with two drivers taking turns to race. This regulation means more amateurs are attracted to join in. At the same time reducing the costs of competition for each driver. As such, after 14 years’ continuous development and listening to demands and suggestions, we finally have the participation scale of the Circuit Hero race series of today, which nurtured a large group of mainland drivers.”

“It is only after we have great races then we can attract a great crowd. When we first started organizing races, it was tough to find spectators. Before 2000, very few people understood motorsport. So for every race event we used various channels to attract spectators, for example, we recruited volunteers from nearby universities and, through them, we got to their fellow students. We also went with travel agents or other organizations to attract group tours. After a few years we were finally able to reach 25,000 people or more per race. Through over ten years’ nurturing, those children who came with their parents are now our loyal and professional fans. The volunteers from the universities are now likely to be parents, they are also bringing their young children to the grandstand to listen to the roar of the engines. In recent years, the demographic of our spectators has changed a lot. At first local spectators accounted for 70% of the total, nowadays non-locals account for 70%. We have no need to “organize” the spectators anymore, when we reach the middle weekend of every March, June and September, the spectators automatically gather from Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Jiangxi at ZIC to experience the “Race Carnival”. This is the process of how Pan Delta went from “Small” to “Big” and “Big” to “Best”.”

Creating an international race event and an interesting grassroot motorsport lifestyle

As we talked about how to improve the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival, Stewart began to talk enthusiastically about their methods, “In the international circuit racing arena, Pan Delta Super Racing Festival is unique, it is based on the Macau Grand Prix street race model. The key factor is how to create a better environment for drivers, spectators, sponsors, travel and catering companies. For that purpose, firstly we applied for both Circuit Hero and Speed Hero to be listed in the FIA and FIM’s race series, at the same time we attracted high standard international teams and drivers to join the races, enhancing the overall standard of the races. After that we broke down the barriers between the grandstand, commercial areas and paddock, so that the spectators can in their spare time visit other activities that match their interests. The guests on the grandstand are not just spectators, on some level they are also participants of the festival. Pan Delta is also the most widely reported race event by the media, for every race we have nearly 100 reporters taking part. Most of them come at their own expenses. This fully proves that after 15 years, Pan Delta has been widely recognized. At the same time it gives more exposure to the sponsors.”

Pan Delta is a big family

During the interview, ZIC staff members continue to come in and take a photo of the handsome Stewart. When this happens, Stewart would appear a little embarrassed, which is a rare thing for him. It is a reflection of the harmonious relationship among staff members. Stewart mentioned his team numerous times in the interview and he has nothing but praise for their professionalism and work ethnic. He believes the success of ZIC today is not the result of any one individual, but teamwork. ZIC is known as the Huangpu Military Academy within the motorsport community, even after they have lost a number of staff members to other racing circuits, they are still as good as ever. This maybe down to what Stewart calls “process management”. He proudly says, during the race I am very free. I just walk around; I can chat with the drivers, sponsors or media. Because all the hard work is done beforehand. On race days our various departments just complete their work by our usual work processes.

Stewart continues, “Pan Delta Super Racing Festival is ZIC’s race event, but it is also a race event for the race teams, drivers, spectators, sponsors and the stalls in the commercial area, media and anyone who enjoy motorsports. Its competition standards are good, the various activities also allow everyone to find their own enjoyment. So when I say “Pan Delta is a big family” and I don’t just mean the staff members, but all the people who come to the circuit. It is everyone’s enthusiasm and curiosity that makes Pan Delta wonderful both on and off the track. Everyone’s passion is ignited. The joy of Pan Delta’s 15th birthday belongs to everyone.” From a newborn baby to a teenager, 15 years come and go quickly, both Stewart and the ZIC team spent their best years here. They have created a promotional path for circuit racing in China, without any one to show them the way. They have since been copied but never overtaken. They work hard and do not put money ahead of everything. We believe Pan Delta Super Racing Festival will go through many changes in the next 15 years, ZIC will also go through a great change in this time. We hope the race cars will go faster and faster while time goes slower and slower, so that more people will be able to enjoy and take part in the Pan Delta Super Racing Festival.