Yan Zhang will become the first female Chinese racer to compete on the World RX package when she joins RX2e for its season finale at Germany’s Estering this weekend.
Yan Zhang will become the first female Chinese racer to compete on the FIA World Rallycross Championship package when she joins the FIA RX2e Championship for its season finale at Germany's Estering this weekend (19-20 August).
After starting out in karting at the age of eight, Zhang moved to Europe to progress her career, contesting junior single-seater series in the UK and Spain while simultaneously achieving success back on home soil in the Beijing Racing Festival Junior Formula Championship.
In 2018, she founded a racing training institution in China and became a racing coach, dedicated to nurturing a new generation of Chinese drivers. She is currently working on establishing a national rallycross series, with the primary objective of her participation at the Estering being to learn more about the sport.
Competing for RuiSi Racing, the event will mark the 44-year-old’s debut in the dual-surface discipline and her first competitive appearance in the last decade.
"For me, this is about enjoying the racing experience and contributing to an exciting competition alongside my opponents," revealed Zhang, who will follow in the footsteps of compatriot Ma Qinghua, who competed in World RX at Silverstone in 2018.
"Hopefully I can finish the races successfully, exchange racing insights and learn about World RX rules. "Through my participation, I want more people in China to develop a love for motorsport and make them aware of the opportunities to participate in international competitions.
I hope to contribute to the development of motorsport in China through my efforts, and this event will undoubtedly be a significant chapter in my career."
World RX is set to make its Asia-Pacific debut in Hong Kong on 11-12 November.