Formula Three (F3) fans in Taiwan are in for a treat, with two international-standard racetracks competing for the distinction of being the first to start hosting races.
The Far Eastern International Race Track in Yunlin County received the go-ahead from the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) on Wednesday and may start construction as early as June. Meanwhile, a rival racetrack set to open in Pingtung County's Dapeng Bay (
Environmental groups, however, said the EPA had approved the Yunlin proposal despite unresolved pollution concerns.
"For example, the air pollution [produced by the racing cars] may contaminate groundwater in the area," said Chang Tzu-chien (張子見), chairman of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union's Yunlin chapter.
The Far East International Sports Agency, which is investing NT$2 billion (US$64.8 million) to build the Yunlin racetrack, said that its proposal had been approved because it "complied with every environmental requirement made by the administration."
"Everything has been done according to the regulations," the company's vice-general manager, Jimmy Ma (
"It takes a significant amount of financial and educational support to develop F3 in a country. The track will provide our drivers with a home base and present the local community with lucrative businesses opportunities, with more than 100,000 tourists [expected to be] attracted annually," he said.
In addition to the F3 races, a European variation of open-wheel formula racing with 300-horsepower cars that is considered a stepping stone toward the more famous Formula One series, 24 to 30 other types of international events can be hosted at the venue every year, Ma said.
"The 50-hectare arena is built to international dimensions and will be capable of accommodating 24 racing cars at a time," he said.
Four different courses will be built, he said.
"If we start construction in June as scheduled, we can open next August," he said.
The EPA approved the Dapeng Bay circuit in January after a two-year-long environmental impact assessment.
The circuit's specifications were certified by the FIA, the international ruling body of motorsport, and the venue will be qualified to host FIA G2-level events. It will also be capable of hosting motorcycle races.
The circuit's main stand will have a seating capacity of 15,000.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHELLEY SHAN
Hong Kong singer Andy Lau’s (劉德華) concert in Taipei tonight has been cancelled due to Typhoon Kong-rei and is to be held at noon on Saturday instead, the concert organizer SuperDome said in a statement this afternoon. Tonight’s concert at Taipei Arena was to be the first of four consecutive nightly performances by Lau in Taipei, but it was called off at the request of Taipei Metro, the operator of the venue, due to the weather, said the organizer. Taipei Metro said the concert was cancelled out of consideration for the audience’s safety. The decision disappointed a number of Lau’s fans who had
Commuters in Taipei picked their way through debris and navigated disrupted transit schedules this morning on their way to work and school, as the city was still working to clear the streets in the aftermath of Typhoon Kong-rey. By 11pm yesterday, there were estimated 2,000 trees down in the city, as well as 390 reports of infrastructure damage, 318 reports of building damage and 307 reports of fallen signs, the Taipei Public Works Department said. Workers were mobilized late last night to clear the debris as soon as possible, the department said. However, as of this morning, many people were leaving messages
A Canadian dental assistant was recently indicted by prosecutors after she was caught in August trying to smuggle 32kg of marijuana into Taiwan, the Aviation Police Bureau said on Wednesday. The 30-year-old was arrested on Aug. 4 after arriving on a flight to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Chang Tsung-lung (張驄瀧), a squad chief in the Aviation Police Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, told reporters. Customs officials noticed irregularities when the woman’s two suitcases passed through X-ray baggage scanners, Chang said. Upon searching them, officers discovered 32.61kg of marijuana, which local media outlets estimated to have a market value of more than NT$50 million (US$1.56
FATALITIES: The storm claimed at least two lives — a female passenger in a truck that was struck by a falling tree and a man who was hit by a utility pole Workers cleared fallen trees and shop owners swept up debris yesterday after one of the biggest typhoons to hit the nation in decades claimed at least two lives. Typhoon Kong-rey was packing winds of 184kph when it slammed into eastern Taiwan on Thursday, uprooting trees, triggering floods and landslides, and knocking out power as it swept across the nation. A 56-year-old female foreign national died from her injuries after the small truck she was in was struck by a falling tree on Provincial Highway 14A early on Thursday. The second death was reported at 8pm in Taipei on Thursday after a 48-year-old man
RSS