China's novel coronavirus has adversely affected sporting events in China. The latest victim is the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-olympic-ceo-calls-coronavirus-concern-irresponsible-rumours-280473" hreflang="en">Tokyo Olympics CEO calls coronavirus concern 'irresponsible rumours'</a>

The Grand Prix was scheduled to take place on April 19 in the&nbsp;Shanghai International Circuit&nbsp;which is approximately 800 kilometres away from Wuhan (the epicentre of the outbreak). However,&nbsp;due to the outbreak, the governing body has decided to postpone the event. The new date is still to be declared.&nbsp;

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sporting-events-that-fell-victim-to-coronavirus-280070" hreflang="en">Sporting events that fell victim to coronavirus!</a>

F1 and FIA made an announcement on Wednesday where they said that they have "accepted a request"&nbsp;from meeting promoters to postpone the race.&nbsp;

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The 2020 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChineseGP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChineseGP</a> will be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak 
 
F1 and the FIA have accepted a request from the promoter to postpone the event 
 
We will continue to monitor the situation and assess potential alternative dates<a href="https://t.co/0VImeMSxlV">https://t.co/0VImeMSxlV</a>
— Formula 1 (@F1) <a href="https://twitter.com/F1/status/1227567110429323266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The race was postponed "in view of the continued spread of novel coronavirus", which is now named COVID-19.

"The Chinese Grand Prix has always been a very important part of the F1 calendar and the fans are always incredible," Formula 1 management said in a statement.

"We all look forward to racing in China as soon as possible and wish everyone in the country the best during this difficult time," it added.

The postponing of Shanghai Grand Prix raises doubts over the inaugural F1 race in Vietnam, which is scheduled for two weeks before the race in Shanghai.&nbsp;The virus has entered Vietnam.&nbsp;

The Formula One championship will commence with Australian Grand Prix on March 15.&nbsp;

The death toll in China's coronavirus leapt to 242 in just one day with over 60,000 infected, China's health ministry said.

Hubei's health commission said another 14,840 new cases were reported in the area. The previous record rise in the toll was 103 on February 10.

At least 1,355 people have now died nationwide due to the virus. The virus has already spread to at least 27 countries with Singapore reporting 50 new cases.

China's novel coronavirus has adversely affected sporting events in China. The latest victim is the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix. Also read: Tokyo Olympics CEO calls coronavirus concern 'irresponsible rumours' The Grand Prix was scheduled to take place on April 19 in the Shanghai International Circuit which is approximately 800 kilometres away from Wuhan (the epicentre of the outbreak).

China's novel coronavirus has adversely affected sporting events in China. The latest victim is the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix. Also read: Tokyo Olympics CEO calls coronavirus concern 'irresponsible rumours' The Grand Prix was scheduled to take place on April 19 in the Shanghai International Circuit which is approximately 800 kilometres away from Wuhan (the epicentre of the outbreak). However, due to the outbreak, the governing body has decided to postpone the event. The new date is still to be declared. Also see: Sporting events that fell victim to coronavirus! F1 and FIA made an announcement on Wednesday where they said that they have "accepted a request" from meeting promoters to postpone the race. The 2020 #ChineseGP will be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak F1 and the FIA have accepted a request from the promoter to postpone the event We will continue to monitor the situation and assess potential alternative dateshttps://t.co/0VImeMSxlV — Formula 1 (@F1) February 12, 2020 × The race was postponed "in view of the continued spread of novel coronavirus", which is now named COVID-19. "The Chinese Grand Prix has always been a very important part of the F1 calendar and the fans are always incredible," Formula 1 management said in a statement. "We all look forward to racing in China as soon as possible and wish everyone in the country the best during this difficult time," it added. The postponing of Shanghai Grand Prix raises doubts over the inaugural F1 race in Vietnam, which is scheduled for two weeks before the race in Shanghai. The virus has entered Vietnam. The Formula One championship will commence with Australian Grand Prix on March 15. The death toll in China's coronavirus leapt to 242 in just one day with over 60,000 infected, China's health ministry said. Hubei's health commission said another 14,840 new cases were reported in the area. The previous record rise in the toll was 103 on February 10. At least 1,355 people have now died nationwide due to the virus. The virus has already spread to at least 27 countries with Singapore reporting 50 new cases.

Chinese F1 Grand Prix postponed due to coronavirus

The tyres of the Aston Martin Racing team car screech and the engine roars as it leaves the pits on its way back into the race at the Shanghai international circuit, one of China's premier motor racing venues.

This sound is something of a metaphor for the growth of the sport in China, where young and old drivers alike are increasingly itching to make an impression on the track.

One of those is 29-year-old Ryan Liu from Shanghai, who won the China GT4 Championship last year in an Aston Martin Vantage with British co-driver Jack Mitchell.

The result, however, is only a stepping stone for Liu towards his dream of driving at the highest levels, although he is realistic about his chances given his age.

"This is a beautiful dream, for me, as it is for many other people," Liu said. "Whether or not one can get into F1 depends on maximising resources in all areas.

"So this for me is more of a dream (than anything else)."

No Chinese driver has featured in a Formula One race, although Ma Qinghua made a free practice appearance for HRT ahead of the 2012 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

It is a journey which does not come cheap, in a sport which Liu says is notorious for "burning money".

Liu, who funds his passion from his savings as a former analyst with Morgan Stanley and support from his family and sponsors, said it had cost him around five million yuan ($729,288) last year.

About two million yuan is for using the Aston Martin car, of which around 800,000 yuan pays for Mitchell to be his co-driver.

Mitchell, who also won the British GT4 championship in 2018, said he loves racing in China, which established their own GT (Grand Touring) Championship in 2016 as more wealthy Chinese drivers got into the sport, but recognised the standard was different.

"Most of the guys I've raced with in the UK we've been practising since we were seven," the 20-year-old said.

"Whereas a lot of the guys in this championship, the Chinese people ... they are new to it.

"So obviously we've got a lot more experience in that sense... obviously we've been practising since we were seven so at the end of the day it's always practice makes perfect."

KARTING PATHWAY EMERGING

The emergence of go-karting, which is widely seen as the principal route into motor racing, however, is gaining in popularity in China and could drive younger people into the sport.

SD Karting Club in north east Beijing, one of a growing number of clubs in the capital, epitomises the trend.

A year after it opened in 2013, it had only around 10 junior members. Now there are around 500 juniors racing regularly.

One such member, He Wencong, who is 10, began karting aged four after his motorsport-mad father took him along. He now goes up to four times a week and won junior races in Beijing.

"My dream is to one day become a formula racing driver and do everything I can to get to F1," the primary school student said.

His father He Wei, an internet operations technician and a keen go-karter himself, said he would support his son in achieving his goal.

Wei is excited about the growth of the sport in China but thinks a better pathway is needed for local drivers to succeed on the world's biggest motor racing stages.

"We aren't like Italy or Europe where they have professional academies. They'll have professional teams, coaches and engineers or technicians," Wei said.

"But in China in lots of cases everything is spontaneous. For example it could be parents who've started it, or the karting centre who've started it.

"It's very rare to have real, official sponsorship."

The tyres of the Aston Martin Racing team car screech and the engine roars as it leaves the pits on its way back into the race at the Shanghai international circuit, one of China's premier motor racing venues.

The tyres of the Aston Martin Racing team car screech and the engine roars as it leaves the pits on its way back into the race at the Shanghai international circuit, one of China's premier motor racing venues. This sound is something of a metaphor for the growth of the sport in China, where young and old drivers alike are increasingly itching to make an impression on the track. One of those is 29-year-old Ryan Liu from Shanghai, who won the China GT4 Championship last year in an Aston Martin Vantage with British co-driver Jack Mitchell. The result, however, is only a stepping stone for Liu towards his dream of driving at the highest levels, although he is realistic about his chances given his age. "This is a beautiful dream, for me, as it is for many other people," Liu said. "Whether or not one can get into F1 depends on maximising resources in all areas. "So this for me is more of a dream (than anything else)." No Chinese driver has featured in a Formula One race, although Ma Qinghua made a free practice appearance for HRT ahead of the 2012 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. It is a journey which does not come cheap, in a sport which Liu says is notorious for "burning money". Liu, who funds his passion from his savings as a former analyst with Morgan Stanley and support from his family and sponsors, said it had cost him around five million yuan ($729,288) last year. About two million yuan is for using the Aston Martin car, of which around 800,000 yuan pays for Mitchell to be his co-driver. Mitchell, who also won the British GT4 championship in 2018, said he loves racing in China, which established their own GT (Grand Touring) Championship in 2016 as more wealthy Chinese drivers got into the sport, but recognised the standard was different. "Most of the guys I've raced with in the UK we've been practising since we were seven," the 20-year-old said. "Whereas a lot of the guys in this championship, the Chinese people ... they are new to it. "So obviously we've got a lot more experience in that sense... obviously we've been practising since we were seven so at the end of the day it's always practice makes perfect." KARTING PATHWAY EMERGING The emergence of go-karting, which is widely seen as the principal route into motor racing, however, is gaining in popularity in China and could drive younger people into the sport. SD Karting Club in north east Beijing, one of a growing number of clubs in the capital, epitomises the trend. A year after it opened in 2013, it had only around 10 junior members. Now there are around 500 juniors racing regularly. One such member, He Wencong, who is 10, began karting aged four after his motorsport-mad father took him along. He now goes up to four times a week and won junior races in Beijing. "My dream is to one day become a formula racing driver and do everything I can to get to F1," the primary school student said. His father He Wei, an internet operations technician and a keen go-karter himself, said he would support his son in achieving his goal. Wei is excited about the growth of the sport in China but thinks a better pathway is needed for local drivers to succeed on the world's biggest motor racing stages. "We aren't like Italy or Europe where they have professional academies. They'll have professional teams, coaches and engineers or technicians," Wei said. "But in China in lots of cases everything is spontaneous. For example it could be parents who've started it, or the karting centre who've started it. "It's very rare to have real, official sponsorship."

Motor racing: Chinese drivers take baby steps towards F1 dream

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Chinese F1 Grand Prix postponed due to coronavirus

Motor racing: Chinese drivers take baby steps towards F1 dream