by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Li Chunyu
BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fresh from winning the final race of the 2025 GT World Challenge Asia on the streets of Beijing, Chinese driver Ye Yifei expressed pride in claiming a home victory, while reflecting on the resilience built from past heartbreak that propelled him to success.
Ye and teammate Zhang Yaqi secured the win for Winhere Harmony Racing in a Safety Car-affected race around the freshly constructed Beijing Street Circuit on Sunday.
"Very excited, because it's my first time competing domestically and I was able to win in Beijing," said Ye. "It's a huge honor and extremely meaningful."
The victory held special significance for Ye, coming after his historic overall victory at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari in June. "Winning Le Mans was already something very proud to achieve, but winning at home is something that makes me even happier," he said.
The new Beijing Street Circuit presented unique challenges. "The corners are very close to the walls on entry and exit," Ye explained. "This weekend was also very cold, so tire warming was a problem. I think this is what separates good drivers from average drivers."
He detailed his winning strategy: "I had a good start, moving up to second place. Then during the pit stop for refueling, we gained the lead and maintained it until the end."
The triumph marks another milestone for Ye, who, along with Zhou Guanyu, has carved a path for Chinese drivers in European racing. "My main racing background is in Europe. There are very few Asian, including Chinese, drivers there. The competition level is very high," said the 25-year-old.
"For an Asian driver to survive there isn't easy. I went to France alone at 14 to learn racing, gradually proving myself against local drivers, showing European teams what a Chinese driver can do."
This determination ultimately led to his role as an official Ferrari driver in 2024, paving the way for his Le Mans victory. "Now returning to China to win, I feel this is the result of my step-by-step efforts since childhood."
Ye also acknowledged the lingering memory of his 2021 Le Mans disappointment, where he lost the LMP2 class victory after retiring on the final lap. "With just two or three minutes left today, many people came to celebrate, but I said wait until after the finish line."
"Racing can be cruel. You can't relax until after crossing the line, that's the charm of motorsport. In 2021, I was completely devastated, but years of failure experiences helped me grow step by step, laying the foundation for my overall victory at Le Mans this year."
Looking ahead, Ye has set his sights on another major goal. With only one more round to go in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship - the 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 8 - he and teammates Philip Hanson and Robert Kubica currently sit second in the overall drivers' standings.
"Next, I will strive for the FIA World Endurance Championship title," Ye said. ■
