We’re Not Making This Up
We’re all aware that China has huge ambitions to reshape the automotive landscape. After all, it’s literally the world’s biggest market with literally billions of potential customers. But the country’s car industry doesn’t want to stop there. It also wants to make an impression in the world of motorsports.
There are a few that compete on a global level, most notably Lynk & Co in touring car racing. But Chery, one of China’s “Big Four,” has its sights aimed at the World Endurance Championship, as Car News China reports.
Exeed to Lead the Charge
More specifically, it’ll be Chery’s luxury division, Exeed, that will be waving the flag for the company and China soon. The brand was introduced in 2017 and currently has a range of upmarket sedans and crossovers, none of which have any overtly sporting intentions.
But hey, we all have to start from somewhere, and Exeed has made the first step by signing a cooperative agreement with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). ACO, by the way, is the organizing body behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so it’s pretty serious. On top of that, the company also announced its five-year plan to enter the big leagues.
The Five-Year Road to Le Mans
Of course, the road to Le Mans requires more careful planning than, say, driving up the 999 steps to Heaven’s Gate. We reckon the mother company, Chery, has learned that lesson by now. With that, Exeed will start by racing within China, launching the Exeed Unified Race series to refine its cars, technologies, and development drivers.
Should the first phase have a positive outcome, Exeed will then move to racing around Asia. More specifically, it aims to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS), where it will be up against constructors such as McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW. There are three categories in ALMS, namely LMP2, LMP3, and GT. The winners in each one get an automatic entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans, although it’s still unknown which class Exeed will enter.
The third and final phase will be the most intensive. The company will establish the Exeed Le Mans Team with drivers and key personnel honed from ALMS experience. Besides that, Chery will build a Le Mans-certified track in its home base of Wuhu with the support of the ACO. That track will also be used to develop vehicles under Chery’s wing, so there’s a return on investment here. Given all of that, the company is determined to make a mark in motorsport and perhaps give the establishment a good scare. As for its potential for success, we’ll keep a close eye on that.
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