Economic Observer reporter Wang Yajie

As the GT car drove under the stands, He Jia felt as if the ground was also shaking.

This 25-year-old delivery rider from Henan used to mainly watch racing cars on his phone. This time, he came specifically to Yizhuang, Beijing. The familiar racing car appeared before him, and the roar of the engine made him feel the impact that cannot be conveyed by mobile phone videos.

The Beijing Yizhuang GT World Challenge will be held at the Tongminghu Street Circuit from October 2nd to 4th, 2026. GT racing cars are developed based on mass-produced sports cars, and fans can recognize familiar models from their appearance. The vehicle's power, braking, and safety configurations are designed for track competition. The GT World Challenge is operated by SRO Racing Group and has a series of races in Europe, Asia, and other regions. This Beijing station belongs to the Asian Cup calendar, and the event has also been included in the "Double Olympics 100" boutique event system in Beijing.

The picture shows the street scene of the GT World Challenge. Reported by Wang Yajie from the Economic Observer.

Over the course of three race days, we gradually progressed from practice to qualifying and the main race. Two GT3 matches are scheduled for the weekend, and there are also four GT4 matches scheduled for the same SRO GT Cup. Viewers can choose between a single day ticket or a three-day pass. Public ticketing information shows that regular viewing tickets start at 98 yuan, and prices vary depending on the date, region, and ticket type. For out of town car enthusiasts, round-trip transportation, accommodation, and dining are also costs for watching the race.

He Jia estimated that his total expenses for this trip were close to 3000 yuan, equivalent to his income from running takeout for less than half a month.

According to data released by the Beijing Economic Development Zone (Yizhuang Management Committee), in 2025, the event will be held in Yizhuang for the first time, with over 25000 spectators attending the event on-site. This year, He Jia and retired car enthusiast Mr. Liu, who came from Shanghai, are willing to pay for the on-site experience. Their itinerary also extended this consumption from the stands to hotels, restaurants, and commercial districts.

One

He Jia doesn't have his own car yet. He is still saving money and planning to buy a family sedan worth around 100000 yuan.

Driving a racing car is even more distant for him. Watching the game on site is currently one of the ways he can afford to participate. However, he still needs to carefully weigh the nearly 3000 yuan expenditure.

This is his second time coming to Beijing. When he was in elementary school, Uncle took him to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag raising ceremony. He only remembered that there were many people and Beijing was very big. This time, he arranged a schedule specifically for the GT competition.

He bought a regular grandstand three-day pass. Since he has to bear the cost of round-trip high-speed rail and accommodation, he hopes to watch the entire training, qualifying, and main race.

The Tongming Lake race track is 4.9 kilometers long, with 12 bends, running between buildings and the lake area. Anti collision walls and guardrails are arranged along the track. After the competition, the track area will resume urban road traffic.

He Jia also deals with city roads every day. He rides an electric bike to receive orders, pick up meals, and deliver meals, completing the work in multiple round trips. The experience of racing began with watching short videos while waiting for meals and taking breaks while running errands.

Slowly, he began to learn about different races and occasionally spent money playing racing simulators. The game clips on his phone brought this hobby into his daily life.

Some colleagues don't understand why he has to spend money on a long journey and feel that online viewing is already sufficient.

What He Jia cares about is the feeling that can only be obtained on-site. The sound of racing cars passing by and the reactions of car fans around them are different from looking at their phones alone. He said that there were young people from all over the place who came to the scene. They didn't know each other before, but they were able to chat about a racing car and a overtaking.

In Henan, he usually can only focus on racing cars during work breaks. Arriving in Yizhuang, he set aside three full days for this hobby.

The picture shows the competition scene. Reported by Wang Yajie from the Economic Observer.

Two

Mr. Liu comes from Shanghai with his wife.

He has retired and has been watching racing for many years. He has been to the Monza circuit (the venue of the Italian F1 Grand Prix), London Silverstone (the home of the F1 British Grand Prix), and has also traveled to Singapore to watch F1. This time, he wants to experience the urban street competition in Yizhuang.

My spouse is not very interested in racing, mainly accompanying him. Mr. Liu said that sitting next to her, most of the time she couldn't understand the attack and defense on the field, but would follow and feel the excitement of the scene.

According to his estimation, the round-trip high-speed rail, hotel, spectator pass, as well as expenses such as meals, commuting, commemorative badges, and taxi rides for the two of them, will cost at least 7000 yuan.

Watching a race car only determines the destination of the trip, and how two people spend their vacation needs to be arranged separately.

Mr. Liu doesn't want his wife to accompany him to watch the game all the time. He also includes shopping in commercial districts, markets, and exhibition halls in his itinerary, hoping that his wife can find activities that interest him.

The supporting facilities around the stadium are meeting such needs.

The picture shows the supporting catering and commercial facilities near the competition venue. Reported by Wang Yajie from the Economic Observer.

During the National Day holiday, the sports carnival has started synchronously. The National Innovation Park features classic car shows and simulated drifting experiences, while the Xinwan Square offers remote control of small-scale physical racing cars through dynamic cockpits. The Food Carnival gathers over 70 stalls.

The picture shows the town of car enthusiasts around the racetrack. Reported by Wang Yajie from the Economic Observer.

People who are not familiar with racing rules can also browse exhibitions, have meals, or try interactive projects here. Accompanying individuals now have their own activities, which gives car enthusiasts more options when arranging a race viewing trip.

He Jia hopes to watch as many matches as possible. Mr. Liu needs to balance his hobbies with his spouse's feelings. The difference between the two viewing schedules is also reflected in their respective expenses.

Three

For the organizers of the event, there are still many services that need to be followed after the audience buys tickets and enters the venue.

Out of town audiences need to consider how to travel back and forth between the hotel and the stands, and where to eat during game breaks. Whether fellow travelers feel bored may also affect their decision for the next trip.

According to official information released by the Beijing Economic Development Zone, the GT event supporting carnival in 2025 attracted over 15000 participants over three days. In addition to watching the competition, there are already foot traffic for dining, shopping, and interactive experiences.

In June 2026, Shangyi City Group signed a ten-year event strategic framework agreement with SRO China. Long term cooperation provides a foundation for the continuous hosting of competitions, but it also means that reception services need to undergo more tests.

Mr. Liu is particularly concerned about the convenience details on site. The roar of the racing car attracted him to the stands and reminded him of his family's hearing protection.

He told the Economic Observer reporter that he hopes the organizers can provide more convenient channels for viewers to purchase or receive earplugs. Audiences like his wife, who are not very interested in racing, have a practical need for noise cancelling earplugs.

For car enthusiasts, the appeal of a race comes from the vehicles, drivers, and the race itself. Whether a trip is comfortable or not often depends on these specific services.

The picture shows the electronic screen of the competition. Respondent provided pictures.

In the past, He Jia always waited for the next racing video during work breaks. These days, he can sit on the stands and wait for the car to pass another lap.

He said that he would continue to take out food and save money for buying a car after returning home.

(Author Wang Yajie)