Fandom In China

On a day when LRGP announced its collaboration with the prosperous city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, it seems appropriate that we talk about our other supporters here in China – the fans.

Fandom in the Far East is like nowhere else in the world – think the Beatles in London in the 1960s, but even more. Fandom is such a big subculture in this part of Asia and with the F1 show in town, there are fans everywhere !

Whilst we saw it with our very own Bruno Senna visiting a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall, we saw it here only yesterday as our podium-pair Nick and Vitaly signed autographs for local F1 fanatics out on the pit lane. Often in the comfort zone of the paddock, drivers are away from the thousands of fans waiting outside the gates just for that one photo on for that elusive hero's signature. The culture of fandom really dawns on you when you step away from the enclosed paddock world or the hotel. The public love a star, and this week the stars are here in abundance. World Champions Vettel, Button, Hamilton, Alonso, not to mention Michael Schumacher are all here and are admired by all those who come to watch. They see it on TV, and only once a year is the sport of Formula 1 in their very own back yard.

There are autograph sessions and there are autograph sessions, and yesterday Nick and Vitaly were in high demand as they spent fifteen minutes meeting those who one day would like to be them. Fans leant up against the railings, desperate for a place at the front so they could get that cherished photo or signature in their programme. These opportunities don't come along very often, and it means a lot to all those out there who have queued up for the very opportunity.

Even when Nick returned to his hotel from some TV duties in the centre of Shanghai two days ago, the fans shouted out for attention – they knew where the F1 hotel was and they wouldn't let anything get in their way to miss their favourite driver. When the drivers come to town, the cherished chance to see their idol is considered the golden ticket.