O' Young pitches for touring car racing

O' Young, 27, said the financial feasibility and the intensive level of competition can ensure the success of touring series over the slick-and-wing Formula racing in the Chinese market.

"It is less expensive to become a touring car driver," said O'Young, who took a break from the Porsche Supercup, an European-based touring car championship, to attend the ongoing Auto Shanghai exhibition. "In Formula racing it's a matter of millions but you need just a fraction of that for a career as touring race driver."

O'Young, who was born in Canada but raised in Hong Kong, is the only Chinese driver to compete in the world's top-tier touring car championships.

Porsche Supercup, a supporting event at every Formula One Grand Prix weekend in Europe and a few outside the continent, has a field of 30-plus drivers in identical 3.6-liter Porsche GT-3 models.

"Touring car racing has a lot to do with a driver's competence as it allows for very limited fine-tuning on the car," said O'Young, who has won the Porsche Asia Cup. "But most of the domestic promoters are focusing on Formula racing at the moment. A change of agenda will be good for everyone."

O'Young finished 10th in the season-opening Porsche Supercup race in Bahrain earlier this month.