Pingtan, China's second international tourism island after Hainan, is located off the coast of Fujian province and stands as the mainland's closest point to the island of Taiwan. Known as a comprehensive pilot zone for cross-Straits integration, it is now becoming a new center of attention for the motorsports industry.

Huang Wei, a veteran racing professional from Zhuhai who began his motorsports journey in 1993 under the influence of Hong Kong and Macau's racing culture, has high hopes for Pingtan's future. Speaking about the region's new round of sealed-border operations, he said, "I believe the motorsports industry will become a high-value sector in Pingtan."

Huang first arrived in Pingtan in 2021 for a guest lecture and ended up staying. At the time, Pingtan was seeking professionals in the racing industry. Recognized as a pioneer in the field, Huang decided to remain and pursue his motorsports ambitions on the island.

He explained one of the key challenges the industry faces: "Most race cars come from abroad and can only stay temporarilyon the mainland for up to six months. After that, they must leave before re-entering for the next event. This incurs repeated customs clearance costs."

Pingtan has been increasing investment in motorsports infrastructure in recent years, gradually building a full industrial chain that includes races and automotive culture exhibitions. These efforts aim to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the motorsports industry.

According to Huang, the new sealed-border policies will allow foreign race cars to enter Pingtan as though they were leaving the mainland. This means teams can use the island as a base for temporary storage, maintenance, and modification of their vehicles, creating new space for industry development.

Currently, the region is pushing ahead with construction of the Pingtan Automotive Culture, Sports and Sci-Tech Innovation Industrial Park, a project with a total investment of around 100 billion yuan. It will be developed in three phases. The first phase centers on the Pingtan International Racing Circuit, featuring an FIA Grade 2 track, EV testing areas, and a smart traffic and safety reception center. The second phase includes facilities for design, research and development, vehicle modification, and staff accommodation. The third phase focuses on commercial R&D and brand incubation, with supporting facilities such as a premium resort hotel and luxury residences.

The first stage of phase one, the Pingtan International Racing Circuit, is expected to be completed and operational by 2027.