OAK Racing's David Cheng is the only Chinese-born national racing in this weekend's 6 Hours of Shanghai, and he shared with the FIA WEC what it means to him to be racing in the championship and at this track in the No.45 Morgan-Nissan LMP2.
“I love coming back to China and racing in front of my ‘home’ people. For example, I was competing in the Asian Le Mans Series in Zhuhai a couple of weeks ago when I had about 40 of my family and friends with me at the event. To be able to race in front of them – and especially to win in front of them – is great so, to be here in Shanghai, where I have friends and family coming to support us is good and I am looking forward to the weekend.
“I think the Shanghai circuit is well suited to more horsepower and higher downforce cars like the LMP2 Morgan-Nissan I will be racing, and it will be a lot different to Zhuhai. Here we have a lot of high speed corners and, from a driver’s perspective, we will get more ‘use; out of the car.
“I’ve raced at Shanghai in the Scirrocco Cup and Lamborghini Trofeo series in the last two years and it’s a really great track – one of the best in China. I’m really glad we are doing this weekend.
“Looking around the paddock here I see a lot of names from F1 including the Audi and Toyota guys and it’s really amazing being in an atmosphere like this. As far as competition goes, I’ve done the majority of the season in the American Le Mans Series which is very competitive and that’s prepared me very well for the World Endurance Championship. Even though I’m familiar with the OAK Racing team and the car, there are still some differences such as the Dunlop tyres, and the Nissan engine. As a team we work really well together and everything is starting to click and become like a family for me.
“I’m really looking forward to going out and giving it the best shot at doing the best job I can and the results will speak for themselves.”
Fiona Miller
