CRI听力:World car model championship held in China for first time

While many would consider tinkering around with model cars more of a hobby than a sport, those competing at the World Championships in Beijing would probably argue otherwise.

Those taking part insist their competition requires precise hand-eye coordination, a honed sense of timing and a killer instinct when it comes to trying to dominate the track.

The event itself is broken down into two events: The Electric 1/12th and 1/10th events.

The fractions represent the size of the model cars compared to the weight and dimensions of a regular-sized race car.

As such, the heavier 1/10th division is the more popular event, and requires the 'drivers' behind the remote controls to be more precise in their turns compared to their smaller counterparts in the 1/12th division.

Unlike human-sized auto racing, model car racing is based on how many laps a 'driver' can complete in a fixed period of time, rather than the other way around.

Those taking part in this week's World Championship have made it to Beijing through their own national qualifying events.

Team China is headed by Rao Liang.

He says much like a pit crew for a Formula One team, the model car 'drivers' also have to adjust their vehicles based on the conditions at any given track they race on.

"Like real cars, models have 10 or more things that need to be set and adjust before racing. Tires and different parts of the car need to match the conditions of the track itself, as well as other factors. Road conditions also change as well, forcing the drivers to make adjustments. And when the competition actually begins, its also tests your operational handling of the vehicle, as well as your mental toughness."

Team China hopes to crack the top-30 at this year's World Championships, which Rao Liang suggests would be a significant achievement, given that model car racing is still a niche event at the moment in China.

The event itself is being held at the Fengtai Sports Center in the suburbs of Beijng.

The facility, as the track the racers are 'driving' on, are relatively new, which has both its good and bad points.

Jilles Groskamp is a racer from the Netherlands who is accustomed to driving his model car on a more 'well-worn' surface.

"The track is nice. The traction is not so good. The grip to the car is not so good. Handling is not easy because it's a new ground nobody knows."

Following this week's event, the new track at the Fengtai Sports Center is likely to get some additional 'ware and tear.'

This year's Model Car Racing World Championships, a week-long event, is set to wrap up this Saturday.

For CRI, this is Yang Yong.