From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

FGSPORT GROUP ANNOUNCE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA PLANS

FGSPORT GROUP has today reached an important pre-agreement with the Zhuhai New Century International Management Company Ltd to stage a round of the FIM Endurance World Championship in the People’s Republic of China in 2004.

FGSPORT Group, the official worldwide rights holders of the FIM Endurance World Championship and the Zhuhai New Century International Management Company Ltd, will organise the “Zhuhai 6 hours” in the People’s Republic of China on 1st /2nd May 2004.

The “Zhuhai 6 hours” event will be the first time that any FIM Road Racing World Championship will be organised in the People’s Republic of China. It marks an important and historic step in the development of motorcycling and was greatly facilitated by the Zhuhai Municipal Sports Bureau and the CMSA (Chinese Motor Sports Association.) The Zhuhai circuit is situated in the Guangdong Province near to Hong Kong; it was constructed in 1996 and upgraded in 1998 to the highest international standards. The Zhuhai circuit will be easily accessible, by direct flight, from Europe from January 2003, with the completion of the new international airport of the Guangdong Province, New Bayun International Airport of Canton, close to the circuit.

Mayor of ZHUHAI CITY Mr. Wang Shun Sheng, declared: “Zhuhai is one of the most beautiful tourism cities in China. It will be wonderful for Zhuhai to host the 2004 Chinese leg of the World Endurance Championship. Zhuhai Government promises full support on this event. All departments will do their maximum to collaborate and make sure of the success of this event.” FGSPORT Managing Director, Vincenzo Lamaro, said “FGSPORT GROUP are proud to see the growth of the FIM Endurance World Championship confirmed by the staging of the first FIM World Road Racing Championship event in the People’s Republic of China. We have been working closely with the Zhuhai New Century International Management Company, Zhuhai Municipal Sports Bureau, CMSA (Chinese Motor Sports Association) and FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) to reach this exciting result. The official FIM Endurance World Championship 2004 calendar will be announced at the FIM Congress in October. The pre-agreement clearly demonstrates the interest and value of Endurance and will provide a major commercial opportunity to enter the significant Chinese market.”

About FIM Endurance World Championship

The FIM Endurance World Championship is a unique and gruelling test of power and long distance motorcycle racing encapsulated in an outdoor festival. It is one of only three world road racing Championships sanctioned by the FIM (Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme) the sports official governing body.

The Championship comprises of 8 motorsport weekends in 8 different top circuits and is experiencing the third season of growth since its re-launch by FGSPORT in 2001.

In 2003 the events are being broadcast globally to over 246 million potential homes across 5 continents via some of the world’s leading broadcasters including, Eurosport (Official Championship broadcast partner), ESPN Star Sports (Pan-Asia), Teledeporte (Spain), AB Moteur (France), Fox Sports (Australia), Rai (Italy), Telenova (Italy), RTVCM Castilla La Mancha (Spain) and Viasat (Scandinavia.) In addition, worldwide deals with motorsport magazine programmes, Motorsport Mundial and Max Power via some of the worlds’ primary broadcasters such as Speedvision (USA) and Channel 5 (UK). China Television Broadcasters will also broadcast extensive coverage of the FIM Endurance World Championship including; Guangdong TV, Bejing TV, Fujian TV, Sichuan TV, Hebei TV, Hunan TV and Guangxi TV; and Central Channel Television, CCTV which has been broadcasting regular programs about World Endurance Championship for 3 years, making this event the most popular motorsport event in China.