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Jonathan White

Chinese Formula 1 hope Zhou Guanyu kept up his quest for a Formula 3 Asian Championship title and the all-important Super Licence points with a second-place finish in Dubai on Saturday.
Zhou, racing for Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema, finished between winner Patrik Pasma and series leader Pierre-Louis Chovet to move into second after 11 of the 15 races. He also finished second, behind Chovet, in Friday’s race.
“My main focus was to make sure Chovet was staying behind,” Zhou said after the race. “Obviously he passed me lap one.”
Zhou managed to get back ahead of the French driver. “The main key is to keep him behind,” he said. He also avoided a crash. “I saw that crash coming before they entered the corners.”

First up:
GUANYU ZHOU
@FIA_F2
@VirtuosiRacing

"F1 is my dream, my target and the team has given me chances to test the F1 car in my role as a test driver."

2021 #AlpineAcademy pic.twitter.com/3Cki09Cad4
— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) February 10, 2021

The 21-year-old was happy with the race. “Really happy to pick up P2 here it’s good for the points at the end.”
Dubai Autodome hosts the final race of the weekend on Sunday before the season concludes with three races in Abu Dhabi next weekend.
‘I should have won long ago,’ says China F1 hope Zhou Guanyu
Zhou, who has 177 points, is 19 points behind Chovet in top spot on 196. Third placed Jehan Daruvala, who finished 12th on Saturday, is on 156 points.
The winner of the series gets 18 Super Licence points and second place 14 points, both of which would mean that Zhou could reach the 40-point mark needed to apply for the F1-enabling licence this season.
Zhou will drive again for UNI-Virtuosi Racing this season, his third in F2, which is set to start in Bahrain at the end of March. He won his first race last season in Russia.

Guanyu Zhou returns to @VirtuosiRacing

The @AlpineF1Team Academy member teams up with the British-based team for a third season #F2 #RoadToF1 pic.twitter.com/Kq9RIa9uvv
— Formula 2 (@FIA_F2) February 10, 2021

Zhou spoke of his desire to make it to Formula 1 at the Alpine Academy media conference this week, with his focus on winning the F2 title.
“If I can get the title, it‘s definitely [a sign that] I can be an F1 driver, that I’m ready to be driving an F1 car and that’s exactly the target for this year, to try to win the title or be a title contender.”
Alpine Academy was known last year as the Renault Sport Academy,
F1 hopeful Zhou makes history with first Chinese win in F2
“We saw in the past that drivers finishing top three in the Formula 2 championship, they’re in Formula 1 the following year,” he said. “It’s a high-level championship to show your potential, to be fighting for the title and if [I can], I think I will have the chance to be stepping up.




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by 周冠宇 / Guanyu Zhou (@gyzhou_33)



“The Super Licence points are definitely the target this year, as well as trying to win the title and to be finishing top three will be enough for my Super Licence points. Once I have that, we will see what door is open and I’m pretty confident that if I can do a great season, or show my full potential of what I’m capable of doing, I think I will have a good chance [to move on to F1].
“But obviously F1 seats, we don‘t have many spare seats per year, so you have to really have a look at what door is open. But right now, I’m just really focused on myself. I’m trying to show everyone that I’m available, that I’m good enough to be going up.”
The Alpine Academy, which was known last year as Renault Sport Academy, will offer Zhou a chance in F1 cars with the Alpine F1 testing team.
Chinese Ferrari Academy driver Zhou looking to make mark at Macau Grand Prix
“To be honest, I can‘t tell you exactly what’s the role,” said Zhou, when asked about his F1 programme for 2021. “But I can say that I will be continuing my F1 team role with Alpine F1 Team, and you will find out definitely more at the Formula 1 car launch.”
Zhou has long been tipped to be the first Chinese Formula 1 driver, with the Alpine Academy director Mia Sharizman saying that he has a once in a generation chance as there are few Chinese drivers coming up.
“It was a once in a generational project,” Sharizman said.
Teenaged ace Zhou eyes history-making performance at Macau GP
“We will never see another Chinese driver [with Zhou’s prospects] for the next 15-20 years, whether in Formula 3 or Formula 4 or Formula 2.
“And I think that is something that from the team itself, the Renault Group, the Alpine F1 team, we are more committed than ever to make sure that happens in the future.”


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Formula One (F1)

Chinese F1 hope Zhou Guanyu keeps up F3 Asia title fight

China's Zhou Guanyu celebrates his first Formula Two victory at Sochi in 2020. Photo: Instagram/Zhou Guanyu

On this day: Michael Schumacher’s last F1 win at Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai

Chinese F1 fans hold a banner supporting Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher at the third practice session of the 2006 China Grand Prix. Photo: EPA

Michael Schumacher fans wearing Ferrari colored-shirts cheer during drivers' parade prior to the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2006. German driver Schumacher is competing against defending champion Fernando Alonso of Renault for this year's F1 driver's title. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)

Ferrari Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany celebrates with team mates after winning the China Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit October 1, 2006. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA)

Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in Shanghai International Circuit

Chinese F1 hope Zhou Guanyu says first F2 win ‘should have come a long time ago’

China's Zhou Guanyu celebrates his first Formula Two victory at Sochi. Photo: Instagram/Zhou Guanyu

F2: China’s Zhou Guanyu makes history with Sochi sprint win

Zhou Guanyu, the first-ever Chinese driver to win a Formula Two race, pictured in 2016. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong racer Antares Au on why he risks it all in name of motorsport ahead of Asian Le Mans outing

Hong Kong endurance driver Antares Au celebrates after finishing with his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in 2019. Photo: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

Hong Kong racers Antares Au (right) and Darryl O'Young strategise before an endurance race. Photo: Stephane Abrantes

Hong Kong driver Antares Au steers his Herberth Motorsport #93 Porsche 911 GT3 R (991) at his fifth Dubai 24 Hour race in January. Photo: Stephane Abrantes

Hong Kong gentleman driver Antares Au at the Dubai 24 Hours GT3-Am category in January. Photo: Michael Widdowson

Team Hong Kong, made up of Kevin Tse, Frank Yu, Jonathan Hui and Antares Au at the Dubai 24 Hours GT3-Am class in 2019. Photo: Stephane Abrantes

Driver Antares Au after his night shift at the Dubai 24 Hours event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in January. Photo: Michael Widdowson

Hong Kong driver Antares Au awaits his next GT3 endurance race in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong racecar driver Antares Au celebrates after finish at the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia in 2019. Photo: Thomas Lam

Sport

China

Motorsport


Formula 2 driver closing gap on series leader Pierre-Louis Chovet, with all-important Super Licence points on offer
The 21-year-old has been described as ‘a once in a generational project’ by Alpine Academy director



Formula 2 driver closing gap on series leader Pierre-Louis Chovet, with all-important Super Licence points on offer.


Renault

Chinese F1 hope Zhou Guanyu keeps up F3 Asia title fight

Formula 2 driver closing gap on series leader Pierre-Louis Chovet, with all-important Super Licence points on offer The 21-year-old has been described as ‘a once in a generational project’ by Alpine Academy director

Formula 2 driver closing gap on series leader Pierre-Louis Chovet, with all-important Super Licence points on offer

The 21-year-old has been described as ‘a once in a generational project’ by Alpine Academy director