2025 CTCC China Cup returns to the classics and sets sail with glory

In 2025, the Sports Cup will return in glory under the name of "CTCC China Cup" and start a new journey. In the past 20 years, China's motorsports has experienced a glorious journey from nothing to something, from weak to strong. As a witness and promoter of this journey, the China Cup carries the dreams and glory of countless racers. In the 2025 season, the China Cup will bring exciting competitions in six official stations. This is not only an upgrade of the classic racing IP, but also a glorious mission for China's motorsports to move towards a new journey. CTCC will continue to promote the reform and innovation of the China Cup, insist on building China's own racing brand IP, and inject new vitality into motorsports.

01
2004-2006
Starting from 0-1

From 2000 to 2003, the sales volume of the Chinese automobile market surged from about 900,000 to 4.39 million vehicles. Against this backdrop, Chinese circuit racing also began to develop. In 2004, the first F1 circuit, the Shanghai International Circuit, was completed, and the first CCC National Automobile Circuit Championship (the predecessor of CTCC) was held. Among them, the Chinese mass-produced car 1600cc category was the first category established after the birth of CCC. Three months later, the Shanghai International Circuit welcomed the first F1 race in China.

**Thus, the events and categories were established and achieved a start from "0-1". In terms of the calendar setting, the ** race has had multiple sub-stations in Shanghai, Zhuhai, Beijing, Chengdu and other places. In addition, the tripartite communication between the China Automobile Federation, the event operator and the team alliance has promoted the faster development of the event, and also established the "1600 Alliance" club system model, which became the prototype of the manufacturer committee later.

02
**2006-2009: **
"Super 1600" set off the first manufacturer competition period

Since 2006, the Chinese automobile market has ushered in a booming development, from 7.21 million vehicles in 2006 to 13 million vehicles in 2009. The Chinese automobile market has ushered in a period of rapid expansion and surpassed the United States for the first time to become the world's largest automobile market. **Shanghai Lisheng Sports Culture Communication Co., Ltd. became the promoter of CTCC in 2009, and the event introduced multiple elements. **Lisheng Sports is also committed to the synchronization of CTCC and the development of the automobile market, attracting many automobile manufacturers to participate.

During the four years from 2006 to 2009, many brands such as Changan Ford, Shanghai Volkswagen, Beijing Hyundai, Dongfeng Nissan, and Dongfeng Yueda Kia rushed to the track. Because these manufacturers are joint venture brands, they also gradually introduced the racing technology of Europe and Japan where their parent companies are located into China. Their participating vehicles have adopted the chassis of the Formula level. Therefore, the 1600cc group of Chinese mass-produced cars at this time was called "Super 1600cc", and Chinese track racing also opened the first stage of international development. Wang Rui, Wang Shaofeng, Lin Lifeng, Han Han, Guo Haisheng, Gao Huayang, He Xiaole and other first batch of well-known Chinese drivers became famous on the track, and set off many exciting annual championship battles in the 1600cc group.

2008 CCC Zhuhai Station, Han Han won the championship as he wished

03
2010-2014
The birth of the "Box Office Guarantee Group" of Chinese racing

2010 to 2014 was a period of rapid development of the Chinese family car market, with overall sales growth, intensified market competition and changes in consumption structure. CTCC established a manufacturer committee in 2010 to guide manufacturers to participate in Chinese racing. By 2014, joint venture brands still dominated the Chinese automobile family car market, and German, American and Korean models occupied a large share of the family car market. Manufacturers and brands such as Shanghai Volkswagen, Changan Ford, and Beijing Hyundai took turns to dominate the CTCC competition.

In 2011, in order to promote the popularity of Chinese racing, create more cost-effective events, and attract more outstanding drivers and teams to participate, the 1600cc group was renamed the "China Production Group". As the name suggests, the racing cars of the China Production Group must be basic models produced in mainland China, and can only use original engines, and restrict power modifications. And it is precisely because of the strict rules that the gap between the racing cars is minimal. **The lap times of the participating vehicles in the China Production Group are very close on the track, which makes it easy to produce many shots of fighting, scrambling, overtaking, and collisions. Therefore, the China Production Group is also called the "box office guarantee group" of Chinese racing by car fans, and has attracted the attention of the general public. **

04
2015-2020
China Cup is popular in the market

With the rapid rise of Chinese motorsports, the racing culture and venue construction are becoming more and more prosperous. China has built many permanent racing tracks including Shanghai International Circuit, Zhuhai International Circuit, Beijing Jingang Circuit, Shanghai Tianma Circuit, Chengdu International Circuit, Guangdong International Circuit, Ordos International Circuit, Guizhou Junchi International Circuit, Jiangsu Wanchi International Circuit, etc. The completion of the racing track has attracted more people to obtain racing licenses, and local competitions have emerged. These drivers who grew up in local competitions have gradually moved to national-level competitions.

CTCC's Chinese mass-produced car group is the best step for these drivers to rise. At this time, the lineup of the Chinese mass production group continued to expand, including many popular sports models sold on the market; and maintaining the original power also made the performance of the cars very close, and the competition was extremely fierce; the rule that only Chinese drivers were allowed to participate made it a pure stage for local drivers to show their skills. Therefore, the Chinese mass production group was further upgraded to the "China Cup" in 2015, and continued to be popular among manufacturers, clubs, and drivers. Including Beijing Hyundai, Haima Automobile, GAC Toyota, and FAW Toyota have left highlights in the China Cup, and champion drivers such as Liu Yang, Wan Jincun, Xia Yu, and Cui Yue have emerged.

05
2021-2022
China Cup NGCC introduced for the first time

With the rise of China's independent auto brands, small-displacement turbocharged engines are popular in the automotive industry, and the China Cup continues to fulfill its mission to promote China's racing industry. The 1.5T displacement was the golden displacement in the Chinese sedan market that year. Almost all automakers in China have produced 1.5T displacement sedans, especially the gradually rising independent brand manufacturers.

In 2021, CTCC followed the trend of the times and launched the new generation of China Cup racing (NGCC) technical rules, introducing 1.5T power. **This is the first set of racing technical rules independently developed by China, which attracted independent brands such as Changan Automobile, Dongfeng Fengshen, and GAC Trumpchi Shadow Leopard to participate, forming a truly "all-Chinese class" racing group, writing a new chapter in independent brand racing. **

06
2023-2024
The rise of the sports cup and the expansion of the scale of participation

As the global sports industry has ushered in a recovery after the epidemic, Chinese racing has also been on the fast track of development in recent years. Not only are more and more Chinese racing forces on the world stage, but mass racing has also come to the forefront of the rise, and the number of clubs and drivers has ushered in explosive growth. Compared with the past, this group of newly emerged grassroots racing forces has presented a new look in terms of scale, technology, and strength. Chinese racing has ushered in the fruits of more than 20 years of accumulation. At the same time, entry-level saloon cars represented by Fit in the past continue to be active in many local events. Against this background, in 2023, Lisheng Sports resolutely made changes and launched a sports cup with wider inclusiveness and more flexible operation.

The rich categories of the Sports Cup adapt to the current trend of flexible racing modification and high club participation. The grouping includes 2.0T, 1.5T, 1.4T and other displacement models, and also protects the interests of the original 1600cc group team. It opens the door to the majority of civilian team drivers with an open attitude, providing them with a valuable opportunity to enter the national competition stage, allowing more people to experience the charm and passion of racing sports in person.

The birth of the Sports Cup caters to the development trend of China's racing industry. Since its launch in 2023, the scale of the Sports Cup has continued to expand. In the 2024 season, it attracted 74 teams to participate, and the total number of participating drivers reached 143.

Including star driversAarif Lee, Gao Huayang, etc. have entered the stage of the Sports Cup, chasing their personal love of racing and leading the trend of Chinese racing.

07
2025 and beyond
Standardized racing cars, professional clubs

China Cup returns to the historical stage

Rules are gradually standardized and normalized

As the level of the event continues to improve, in order to further elevate the strategic positioning of the sports cup in the league system and strengthen the image of national events. In the 2025 season, the CTCC China Cup will return. In addition to a more recognizable and honorable event group name, it will also work with core clubs to establish a standardized racing car modification registration structure that is more in line with Chinese racing sports, further promote the specialization and standardization of China's independent racing industry, and create a local characteristic event that masters independent core technologies.

Strongly support the professional and commercial development of clubs

In the 2025 season, the China Cup will continue to support newcomers in the race and welcome more car brands to participate in depth. At the same time, it will also promote the transformation and upgrading of participating teams and help the majority of clubs develop in the direction of standardization, clubization and professionalism to enhance the commercial value of the team and achieve win-win cooperation between the event and the team. At the same time, CTCC also expects the China Cup to further enhance the professionalism, dissemination and influence of the event; it hopes to continue the past glory, so that all levels of cars and drivers at all levels can write the legend of Chinese racing in the new era on the new racing stage.

08
****Registration for the 2025 CTCC China Cup is about to open! ****

The 2025 China Cup plans to hold six races, visiting Shanghai International Circuit, Ningbo International Circuit, Zhejiang International Circuit and other racing landmarks. It is more likely to return to the birthplace of the classic China Cup battle, Ordos International Circuit, Zhuhai International Circuit, etc., and finally end at Zhuzhou International Circuit. Following the changes of the times, the China Cup has a new start. The season registration plan will be announced soon, so stay tuned! CTCC hopes to work with you to continue the story of China's racing dream!