The reason why we had organised to go back up to Beijing was to see the A1 racing. Dave and I decided to do this after we missed out on the F1 in Shanghai for one reason or another. The race was at a specially designed and built street circuit in the north of Beijing and due to problems getting the track finished the race had to be postponed until the 11th of November, a week after previously scheduled. Even when the race was on they had to cancel the friday practice and saturday qualifying due to problems with a hairpin corner and some lose manhole covers!
Before the race we had done our research into ticket costs and so on and found out that the price for three days started at £60. Whist this wasn't too bad compared to English Prices we didn't want to pay it, especially as we were only going for the sunday. However we had read about the F1 in the paper and how Ticket Touts, rather than upping the prices, sell for dramatically under the face value. Everything is backwards in China! So we were hopeful of getting something a bit cheaper.
So we left the hotel around 11am and got taxi's to the circuit - thankfully the driver straight away knew where he was meant to be going and we weren't needed to do any racing car impressions. We got dropped off and straight away were harrassed by touts-exactly what we wanted on this occaission. We were hung over and not in the mood to negotiate for hours so when they said 300yuan i just said 500 for 5. They agreed and we left. Worked out at about £7 each per ticket. Looking at the ticket the face value was 1500 yuan- a little over £100. Ridiculous.
So we happily made our way into the circuit. As we were walking we could hear the cars racing around the track and we saw a gaping hole in the fence at the side. Dave, being inquisitive as ever, sticks his head through the hole and nearly has it taken off as a car speeds by at 200mph. Not the safest thing ever but he managed to get some quality pictures and videos and it didn't stop the rest of us doing the same, until a steward moved us on.
We got inside the main circuit next to the grandstand where we would be sitting. It overlooked the pits and the exhibition centre. I got talking to a Chinese girl who was doing surveys and had a press pass. It didn't look anything too official but it was an accreditation, which was more than we had so I asked her cheekily if she could get us over the other side into the pits she answered that she thought she probably could. We followed her and her friends around for 20 minutes as we walked back out the circuit and around the side. Every now and again we would bump into some police or stewards who they would chat to but at no point did anyone ask for our passes or tickets. Eventually we found ourselves on the inside of the circuit and saw our first cars- some rally cars that had been on as an exhbition race. We neared the main centre that we had seen before and there was a huge table with passes and tickets on so we thought there was no hope of getting in. We didn't stop at the table and just walked past the guards and ticket collectors smiling and straight into the VIP area. Rediculous!
In there we were treated to free food and drink, escorted around by Dolly Birds and even had access to the pit lane and mechanic's garages. We got to see the drivers' working on their cars before the race and even saw some being completely reassembled. We spoke to the Mechanics and team leaders-who were all British- the whole time Dave and I both had a grin wider than that of a Cheshire Cat. We really couldn't believe our luck.
Inside the centre there was a A1 car challange where volunteers had to change 1 tyre in the quickest time possible. Taking into mind that it takes a proper mechanic about 5 seconds to do one, the leading time of just over 10 seconds was very impressive. Dave and Gaz stepped up to the platter, laughing at the girls before them who could only manage a paultry time of 50 seconds. They were introduced as "A Screw Loose" and Britains first contestants of the day. Big things were expected and they got off to a good start until Dave had his job to do..... the rest as they say is history!
After all this we walked around a little longer and then went back to get our seats for the racing in the grandstand.
We were sat right opposite the pits and the starting grid so had a good view of everything that was going on pre-race and during. Seeing the Yanks making a complete hash of the pit stop was very good viewing indeed! The noise of the cars was tremendous (especially with a hangover) not quite as loud as F1 maybe but still very very loud. The start with all the cars revving was incredible.
The race itself was very good fun. I quite like the idea of it being nation against nation with all the cars the same but at times it was quite processional. However the street circuit was quite thin and so there were lots of mistakes made. The Irish Drive only lasted 3 laps and the Chinese driver crashed out spectaculalry half way through-which lead to a mass exodus by the local fans. We stayed on and watched Team GB climb up to a respectable 4th place. With 10 laps to go the leaders Netherlands were given a hefty shunt by second place Germany (what is it about german motorsport and shunts hey?) and both were forced to retire. This left Team GB in Second place. Whilst we cheered every time the car roared past hoping our encouragement would spur them on to a famous victory it wasn't to be and 2nd was all we could manage.
A funny moment came when the drivers were on the podium. The winner was announced and no one realy applauded or cheered but when they announced the driver for Team GB as second place all 5 of us stood up and shouted as loud as we could. The driver blatently heard us and looked over in our direction and waved. We then left as they played the Italian National Anthem- couldn't stomach listening to that!
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