New Racing Breakthrough: Podium at Shanghai 8 | Conversation with Xu Weizhou

September 27, 2026 Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race concluded at Shanghai International Circuit. Origin7 Racing, supported by Team Pegasus XingSu Racing, steadily progressed in this complex endurance showdown, achieving a double podium finish. Car #977 team, Tian Weiyuan, Jiang Tengyi, Xu Weizhou, Kantadhee KUSIRI, together completed 198 laps, securing runner-up in the GTS SA class; Car #621 team, TANG Yile, Hana BURTON, Shi Wei, Han Liqun, after experiencing multiple adverse factors such as accidents and car failures, ultimately brought back third place in the class.

For crossover artist and driver Xu Weizhou, this was his first time participating in long-distance endurance racing. From single-lap speed to long-distance rhythm, from individual driving to team collaboration, this crossover driver further felt the charm of GT racing through the 8-hour race, and accumulated more experience while fighting alongside professional drivers.

From Sprint to Endurance, A New Racing Experience

Earlier this year, Xu Weizhou drove a GT4 car to participate in the SRO GT Cup Shanghai round, continuously improving in the two-round sprint showdowns and constantly refreshing his personal best lap time. Coming to the Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race, he faced a completely different race rhythm.

Regarding the difference between the two types of racing, Xu Weizhou stated: "I feel endurance racing is more about testing the driver and the car. This time, I specially thank Team Pegasus and Origin7 Racing, they gave me a lot of confidence, and the cars were also very stable. Having so many reliable teammates, I had a lot of fun this time. I experienced a lot, and I hope to accumulate more GT experience in this process."

For his first 8-hour endurance race, Xu Weizhou did not set overly aggressive goals before the race. Compared to chasing single-lap speed, he hoped more to fulfill his duties in the long-distance race and smoothly hand the car over to teammates: "First is to finish the race safely, keep up with the speed of the three Pro drivers in the team, not fall too far behind, then safely bring the car back and hand it to teammates. I feel endurance racing is different from sprint racing; only if you survive until the end can you laugh until the end."

In endurance racing, stability and rhythm control are often more important than single-lap peak speed. For Xu Weizhou participating in the 8-hour endurance race for the first time, adapting to his teammates' driving style while maintaining his own driving rhythm was also an important takeaway from this race.

Car #977 team gathered drivers with different driving styles. For Xu Weizhou, completing the long-distance race with professional drivers not only meant stronger competitiveness but also provided a rare learning opportunity.

Regarding the help his three teammates provided in driving and technical aspects, Xu Weizhou said: "My teammates gave me a lot of help. For example, our Thai Pro driver Kantadhee, his driving style is actually quite different from mine, very aggressive. I learned a lot while watching his onboard footage, and he also told me some of his driving methods."

Different drivers have their own understanding of braking points, racing lines, vehicle posture, and throttle control. Through observing onboard footage, exchanging driving methods, and adjusting based on their own characteristics, Xu Weizhou was also constantly searching for his own driving style: "Different drivers have different driving styles, you absorb everyone's style, and slowly you will find out your own true driving way."

For Xu Weizhou, who is still continuously accumulating GT racing experience, this communication between professional drivers and teammates may be just one of the charms that distinguish endurance racing from traditional sprint racing. The 8-hour course connects every driver together, and the final results also come from the whole team's joint control over the car, strategy, and rhythm.

Endurance Battlefield Debut on Podium, GT Journey Continues

From drifting circuits to circuit racing, then to GT4 cars, Xu Weizhou is continuously broadening his racing experience. Compared to the freshness of first encountering GT4, now coming to the Shanghai International Circuit again, he has a deeper understanding of the rhythm and driving style of GT racing.

Regarding his feelings about this Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race, Xu Weizhou stated: "The race atmosphere is very good, there are so many handsome GT3s, and also GT4 and GTC cars. For me, because I used to drive front-wheel-drive touring cars, after entering the GT field, you will find it's actually not as unreachable and difficult as imagined. There can be better attempts, slowly I came here. Maybe later I will also go further down the GT road."

From the SRO GT Cup earlier this year to this Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race, Xu Weizhou is completing the transition from getting familiar with GT racing to adapting to different racing formats step by step. And the GTS SA class runner-up achieved in this Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race has also become another breakthrough in his GT racing experience.

Regarding the future of his racing career, Xu Weizhou also had a clear plan: "I want to take it step by step, start from GT4, then to GTC, and then enter GT3. Because to attempt entering higher-level racing, one must first have enough mileage and driving experience, climbing up progressively."

The 2026 Shanghai 8 Hours Endurance Race has concluded, but Xu Weizhou's GT racing path continues. Expect this crossover driver to constantly open up new possibilities in his future racing career, welcome the challenges of higher-level racing, and drive further on his own track.