On April 26, the 2026 Xiaomi CTCC China Touring Car Championship staged the final race of the second round of the Shanghai Jiading leg at the Shanghai International Circuit. Four competitive events, including the TCR China Touring Car Championship Shanghai Grand Prix, CTCC China Cup, CTCC One-Lap Challenge, and the supporting Lynk & Co Urban Racing Cup, took place in succession, presenting a spectacular and thrilling racing feast on the world-class F1 circuit.

Guest Presenters: Zhan Guojun, Chairman, Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China (CAMF).

Ma Ben, Motorsport Director, Michelin Asia-Pacific

In the TCR China Shanghai Grand Prix, Zhu Daiwei from Lynk & Co Jekay Racing Team overcame fierce competition to claim the championship title. Diego Moran from ATE Racing By DM23 secured the runner-up trophy, while Li Guanghua of Jekay Racing Team took third place.

Guest Presenters: Ai Wen, General Manager of Xiaomi Shanghai Branch

In the Challenge Class of the TCR China Shanghai Grand Prix, Li Fukun from Hong Kong’s Team TRC claimed the top podium spot. Li Jiaxi from Zhuhai Sangtian Racing Team finished second, while Wang Tao from Autohome By 300+ Team took third place.

Another thrilling round unfolded in the CTCC China Cup. Starting from the rear of the grid, Sun Zheng from Taihe Tyrannosaurus Arrizo Racing Team charged through the field throughout the race and claimed overall victory with a stunning series of overtakes, securing his team’s first TCS-class title of the season. Sun Chao from SAIC Volkswagen 333 Team took third place in the TCS category. Meanwhile, Fang Zi and the pairing of Zhu Juan and Li Dan from Lynk & Co Zongheng Team claimed the championship and third place respectively in the TC2 category.

At noon, the grand opening ceremony of the CTCC Shanghai Jiading Round was held successfully. The event was attended by distinguished guests including Zhan Guojun, Chairman of the Federation of Automobile and Motorcycle Sports of China (CAMF); Zhou Wanchun, Party Secretary and Director of Jiading District Bureau of Sports; Wu Junshi, Party Secretary and Director of Jiading District Meteorological Bureau; Ai Wen, General Manager of Xiaomi Shanghai Branch; Lu Ling, Chairman of Shanghai Juss International Sports Center Co., Ltd.; Li Dan, Motorsport Director of Lynk & Co and Zeekr; Lin Guoping, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Automobile and Motorcycle Sports Association; Ma Ben, Motorsport Director of Michelin Asia-Pacific; Qi Di, Automotive Motorsport Tire R&D Project Manager of Sailun Group; Xu Tingting, Executive Director and General Manager of Shanghai Smart Mobility Design Valley; Chen Bo, General Manager of ARTKA; Xu Liren, General Manager of NFS Motorsport; Cheng Guang, General Manager of Shanghai Lishen Sports Culture Communication Co., Ltd. and Chief Operating Officer of CTCC. Zhan Guojun officially declared the competition open.

Partnering with Xiaomi as its official title sponsor, CTCC keeps advancing innovation and in-depth collaboration.

As the official title sponsor for the current season, Xiaomi has joined hands with CTCC, injecting brand-new technological vitality and robust brand momentum into this time-honored national-level motorsport event. The successful hosting of the opening round marks the solid completion of the first phase of cooperation between CTCC and Xiaomi — the full implementation of brand integration. CTCC has incorporated Xiaomi’s brand elements into its official visual system, event communication and on-site presentations, while jointly launching exclusive track experience activities. Moving forward, both parties will further expand Xiaomi’s influence and audience reach within the motorsport community. More young enthusiasts passionate about performance driving will get close to, understand and embrace motorsports through the platform of CTCC.

More notably, the partnership between Xiaomi and CTCC will extend toward deeper and more diversified dimensions. Beyond brand-level collaboration, Xiaomi will continuously empower the event’s business model innovation and operational upgrading. Advancing from competition-oriented events to comprehensive service-oriented systems and evolving from a racing platform to a full-scale ecological platform, CTCC is leveraging this strategic cooperation to expand its industrial layout. The landmark partnership enables the national top-tier racing event to realize cross-industry value upgrading and brand empowerment.

In addition, the title sponsors of numerous teams participating in this season span a broader range of consumer sectors, covering diverse fields from the automotive aftermarket to education, forming an increasingly diversified brand matrix. CTCC’s overall operational philosophy is undergoing a comprehensive transformation — shifting from simply “staging outstanding races” to “serving all participants and expanding a thriving industrial ecosystem”.

Upgraded Events, Empowering Professional Motorsport

With the strong support from Xiaomi, CTCC’s overall event competitiveness continues to grow steadily, backed by the iterative upgrading of its operational system and the continuous release of platform value. Throughout the 2026 season, CTCC has launched innovative initiatives across multiple dimensions, accelerating the transformation of amateur clubs into professional racing teams.

On the technical regulation front, while retaining the overall framework of previous seasons, the CTCC China Cup has rolled out systematic fine-tuning to vehicle modification standards. By easing partial modification restrictions for specific categories, the event facilitates continuous breakthroughs in the development of domestic Chinese racing vehicles. Meanwhile, the introduction of the vehicle registration system encourages independent research and development among Chinese manufacturers and racing clubs, fostering the creation of high-performance racing products independently developed in China.

In terms of competition development, the TCR China Shanghai Grand Prix has partnered with long-term collaborator Michelin to launch the new Michelin Pilot Star Award for rookie drivers this season. Designed to recognize young drivers who demonstrate outstanding speed, consistency and developmental potential throughout the races, the honor offers rookies additional recognition and exposure. Leveraging Michelin’s profound expertise in premium tire technology and global motorsport heritage, the initiative delivers professional support for young drivers’ growth, empowering them to push their limits and steadily advance toward elite professional racing standards.

In terms of operational philosophy, CTCC is undergoing an all-round transformation from merely "delivering excellent races" to "serving all participants and expanding a sound industrial ecosystem". The coordinated progress of refined competition regulations, empowered brand partnerships and self-upgrading racing teams jointly lays a solid foundation for the professional advancement of motorsport in China.

Diversified Viewing Experience, Business District Revitalizes Cultural and Tourism Vitality

Beyond the track, the commercial zone at the CTCC Shanghai Jiading Round drew massive crowds. The exclusive booth of Xiaomi Auto, the event’s title sponsor, stood out as the center of attention. The debut of the new-generation SU7 drew countless motorsport fans to stop by and admire the vehicle, with audiences eager to share their driving control experiences. Long queues formed at the merchandise booth of the official CTCC Store, where the latest official event souvenirs were quickly sold out.

Lynk & Co brought four racing vehicles to the venue, namely the Lynk & Co 03++, Lynk & Co 03+ and Lynk & Co 03, drawing crowds of fans who pulled out their phones to take photos and check in. The cultural and tourism booth from Anting presented ginkgo-themed cultural souvenirs, automotive merchandise and intangible cultural heritage crafts, seamlessly blending the thrill of motor racing with the elegant charm of Jiangnan, and attracting numerous visitors to stop and experience the exhibits.

The Michelin Track Tire Technology Interactive Zone and KW High-Performance Suspension Display Area became popular gathering spots for hardcore motorsport enthusiasts, with non-stop engagement from visitors throughout the event. Long queues persisted at the racing-themed entertainment zone presented by Wanda Cinema Shanghai and two professional racing simulators from MetaSVS Sports. Meanwhile, interactive quizzes hosted by Yuedongquan gave away a wide range of premium gifts to participants.

The much-anticipated driver autograph session kicked off before the opening ceremony, allowing fans to communicate face-to-face with professional drivers and immerse themselves in racing culture. Cultural and tourism linkage initiatives such as the "Ticket Stub for Jiading Travel & Accommodation" program extended the roaring engine soundtrack beyond the circuit to the whole district, delivering an all-in-one experience combining race watching and local tourism. The bustling commercial zone stood as another unmissable highlight outside the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend.

Zhu Daiwei Claims Victory with Comeback Drive, Ecuadorian Driver Steps onto Podium

Let’s shift our focus back to the track. Per the competition regulations, the top ten finishers from the qualifying session of TCR China will start the second race in reverse grid order. This reshuffled starting lineup forced many top competitors to launch their charge from the back of the field, laying the groundwork for countless thrilling overtakes and wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the race.

Starting from the second row, Ecuadorian driver Diego Moran took the lead shortly after the lights out. Starting P10, Zhu Daiwei kept a steady pace at the beginning and steadily moved up the order by capitalizing on fierce battles ahead. Mid-race, third-placed Li Guanghua engaged in sustained wheel-to-wheel combat with leader Diego Moran, running side-by-side through multiple corners in tight, fast-paced exchanges. Seizing the opportunity, Zhu Daiwei overtook Li Guanghua to move into second position before launching a full-scale attack on Moran. After several close duels, he secured the race victory.

After the race, Zhu Daiwei reflected on his comeback victory, “I got a solid start today and managed to overcome all challenges to claim the championship. Our car boasts excellent overall balance. This weekend has been full of hurdles. We finally debuted our brand-new race car this year. While it still lacks full consistency, the machine has kept improving thanks to the entire team working overtime until the early hours every single day. This is a homegrown TCR race car fully developed by Chinese people. What makes it even more meaningful is that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Lynk & Co brand. I’m hoping everything will go smoothly in the upcoming rounds.”

Homegrown Race Cars Shine, Chery and Lynk & Co Break Through to the Podium

In the CTCC China Cup, the rise of domestic automotive brands stands as one of the most eye-catching highlights on track. Local representatives including Chery and Lynk & Co rely on outstanding race cars and technical prowess to fully demonstrate the profound heritage of China’s automotive industry, while writing a brand-new chapter that marks the industry’s transformation from "manufacturing" to "independent innovation".

It is worth noting that Sun Zheng from Taihe Tyrannosaurus Arrizo Racing claimed his maiden overall victory in the CTCC China Cup at the wheel of the Chery Arrizo 8 race car today! The TCS class champion shared his thoughts: “An incident during yesterday’s qualifying confined me to the 26th starting grid spot, way at the back where I could barely see the starting lights. Nevertheless, my car boasted remarkable power off the line, allowing me to overtake numerous competitors before Turn 1. I then seized opportunities on both the inside and outside lines to quickly fight my way back into contention. Mid-race, I capitalized on a scrap ahead to pit one lap early, which afforded me a clear out-lap — that proved to be the decisive factor in the race. Later I learned some rivals failed to complete their mandatory pit stop duration, yet I stuck to my own rhythm and ultimately brought home the class championship.”

Lynk & Co 03++ also claimed both the champion and third-place trophies in the TC2 class. Li Dan, Motorsports Director of Lynk & Co & Zeekr, stepped onto the podium alongside Zhu Juan. After the race, Li Dan summed up the core philosophy behind Lynk & Co’s full-scale engagement in China’s motorsport scene, “Lynk & Co has comprehensive participation across track competitions this season, covering three distinct series with entirely different race machinery: the self-developed Lynk & Co Cup Urban Sprint Race, CTCC China Cup contested by Lynk & Co Zongheng, and TCR China represented by Lynk & Co Jekai. As the head of Lynk & Co Motorsports, my vision is to open these three championships to drivers of all skill levels. I have already taken part in the Lynk & Co Cup Urban Sprint Race and CTCC China Cup, and may get behind the wheel of a TCR-spec car in the second half of the season. This not only reflects our confidence in our racing hardware but also lets me refine our race cars through firsthand competition experience, while encouraging more drivers to embrace motorsport.”

In addition, SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing Team demonstrated the competitive spirit of a top-tier squad undaunted by challenges. Despite technical issues plaguing their race car, solo driver Sun Chao fought his way up from the back of the grid with successive overtakes, ultimately crossing the line to claim third place in the TCS class.

City Teams Ignite Fierce Battles, Hong Kong China Squad Claims Foothold in Shanghai

It is noteworthy that CTCC continues to adopt the city team format for the 2026 season. This competition mechanism has been further advanced simultaneously across two major series: TCR China Touring Car Championship and CTCC China Cup. A total of 32 teams from multiple provinces, municipalities and regions including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, Zhejiang, Hunan and Shandong have joined the campaign with great enthusiasm.

This weekend, the squad from Hong Kong delivered an outstanding performance. Team TRC Hong Kong claimed podium finishes in both races of the Challenge Cup class, with Li Fukun securing the class title in Race 2. After the race, Li Fukun shared: “I talked through the setup with my engineers last night, aiming to extract more pace from the car, yet several areas still fell short of expectations. I’m looking forward to stepping up our speed for the next round.”

The final of the brand-new grassroots event CTCC One Lap Glory Challenge was held today, with 28 Porsche machines lapping at full throttle on the high-standard Shanghai International Circuit. At the end of the competition, Qian Chao, Ye Xiang and Fu Dong claimed the champion, runner-up and third place in the PRO class respectively; Gu Tianjun, Ding Ke and Ge Yanhao took the top three honours of the AM class; Lin Weixiong, Zhou Chenfei and Lin Yuhong finished first, second and third in the UL class.

The thrilling two feature races of the Shanghai Jiading Event drew the curtain on the opening event of the 2026 CTCC season. More than a hundred race cars across four competition series hit the F1 circuit, staging intense wheel-to-wheel battles and heartfelt stories of veteran drivers passing the torch to rising talents. They kick off a brand-new chapter of racing this season and lay groundwork brimming with boundless potential for the future of Chinese motorsport.

From May 29 to 31, the Xiaomi-sponsored CTCC China Touring Car Championship will head to Ningbo International Circuit for the second round of the 2026 season. The fierce competition in Shanghai Jiading has come to a temporary end, while fresh challenges await in Ningbo.