Formula 1 Prepares to Launch Racing in Vietnam

 

A new car racing¹ track is nearing completion in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Formula 1 website reports that crews are expected to finish work on the race course next month. The international racing event is making preparations for the country's first Formula 1 Grand Prix. The race is to take place in April.

The Vietnam Grand Prix circuit, or raceway, is 5.6 kilometers in length. It was designed to include a permanent track structure, but also extends into some of Hanoi's streets. Formula 1 says it expects drivers to reach top speeds of about 335 kilometers an hour.

Asia experts say Formula 1's arrival in Vietnam demonstrates the economic health of the Communist-led country. The Grand Prix races are expected to bring more foreigners into Vietnam.

President and CEO of Formula 1 Chase Carey, left, Hanoi Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung, second from left and two other officials watch the Hanoi F1 circuit design on the screen in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018. Formula 1 and Hanoi officials on...

Rajiv Biswas is the chief Asia-Pacific economist² at market research company IHS Markit. He told VOA he thinks the government will use Formula 1 events to expand the country's tourism industry. "Then of course Vietnam's own more upper middle-class population would be interested in these types of events," he added.

Liam Parker is head of communications for Formula 1. He says one reason the organization chose Vietnam was because of major growth in its increasingly market-driven economy. The country enjoys a growing local population with a "large and young workforce³" and higher personal earnings⁴, Parker told VOA.

"Hanoi is one of the most exciting cities in the world right now with such a rich history and an incredible⁵ future ahead of it," he added. "This is the perfect formula for Grand Prix racing and we believe this will become a real highlight of the F1 calendar."

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of foreign tourists in Vietnam expanded from 5 million to more than 15 million.

Vietnamese officials expect the Formula 1 event to bring in even more tourists, said Mark Thomas, an advisor⁶ with sports marketing⁷ company OmniCom Experiential Group.

"I sort of think it works for both sides," Thomas said. He explained that the government gets a new way to advertise Vietnam to the world, while Formula 1 and its owners make money from the deal.

Vietnam, like China 15 years ago, is an "up-and-coming nation that wants to showcase itself to the world," Thomas added. Around East Asia, Formula 1 holds other races in China, Japan and Singapore.

More than one-third of Vietnam's 97 million people will be middle class or more by next year, the Boston Consulting Group predicts. The middle-class growth is fueled mainly by a rise in export manufacturing that has created jobs.

More Vietnamese now have money to attend live sporting events. Soccer and basketball have both gained popularity⁸ in recent years. A Formula 1 Grand Prix ticket will cost between $30 to $300, depending on the event date and seats bought.

Words in This Story

track – n. a path or road used for races

tourism – n. the business of providing services for visitors to a place

incredible – adj. very good or exciting

calendar – n. events planned during the year for a particular activity or organization

showcase – v. present the best qualities of something

1 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

4 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

5 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。

6 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。