Racing to the next thrill

In organizing or watching a Formula 4 racing event, people might easily notice that most participants are in their teens or 20s. Drivers in that demographic are thought to yearn for the double driving experience - thrilling, fast and furious - to get their hearts racing.

So does that mean high-speed racing is only for the young?

"In fact, I don't think so. I would race to my physical limits," said a 63-year-old driver, Han Yingfu, shortly after the second round of the Formula 4 Chinese Championship in Chengdu last Sunday.

But the four-wheel constant didn't meet his expectation at the highest ranked circuit in Sichuan, as his car was involved in a racing incident.

Han didn't complain. Instead, he said it was normal to see any incident happen at a high-speed track.

"When it happens, the most important thing is to try to stay calm and learn to monitor your attitude," he said.

"Even the best racing drivers have their bad days, and no one can be 100 percent successful," the Hong Konger said while mentioning a few trophies to recall the past glories of his racing career.

In 1987, Han was deeply engaged in the races, but he later quit for the sake of his interior designing career. In 2008, his enthusiasm for racing cars was rekindled when he first saw the challenging Formula 1 circuit in Shanghai.

Since then, his fever for driving never waned. In 2011, he created his own motor team and founded Henmax Motorsport. Han seemed more determined than ever to devote himself to driving amid opposition from family members and friends.

Fast forward to 2018, another challenging year for him in the sport. Even if the older drivers aren't able to physically match the young ones, that doesn't mean they can't be successful. Han said he could actively participate for the entire season.