Champ Car agrees to hold race in Beijing next year

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The Champ Car World Series will expand its Asian operations with a race next year in Beijing.

Champ Car said Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with the Beijing Auto and Motor Sports Association. Initial discussions indicated that the race could be held in either May or September, but that has yet to be decided, officials said.

A promoter and location have yet to be decided, officials said.

"This is a major step forward for the Champ Car World Series as we continue to establish our presence in the Asian markets," series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven said. "We believe these markets are fundamental to our series' growth and future success."

Indianapolis-based Champ Car already races in Korea and Australia.

The agreement was signed with BAMSA, the government regulatory agency that approves all auto racing for Beijing.

"As the capital city of China and the hosting city of 2008 Olympics, Beijing has now become a city with economic prosperity and steady improvements, as well as the best market for automobile races," Zhang Junyu, secretary General of BAMSA, said in the Champ Car statement. He said the city is working toward becoming an international sports center and holding world-class races will help achieve that goal.