by Chinese automaker Chery announces plans to compete in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race
One of China’s largest automakers, Chery, has set its sights on the world’s most demanding endurance race — the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The brand has declared its ambition to participate in the legendary event within the next five years.
This statement comes shortly after a very public failure — an unsuccessful attempt to climb the 999 steps to the Chinese Heaven’s Gate as part of a stunt that did not succeed. However, competing in the Le Mans race presents a much more complex and technical challenge.
Strategy for entering the international arena through the Exeed sub-brand
Chery’s sporting offensive is led by its sub-brand Exeed, which has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) — the French organization that manages the Le Mans race. While participation in the legendary race is a long-term goal, Exeed plans a gradual step-by-step approach to achieve it.
To gain the necessary experience, Chery is launching its own Exeed Unified Race series. This internal competition will allow the company to develop its racing technologies and identify drivers capable of reaching the level of international endurance racing.
First steps in the Asian Le Mans Series
Following the internal racing series, Chery intends to enter the Asian Le Mans Series. This will be its first test on the global stage, although the brand has not yet confirmed in which specific category it plans to participate. Options range from Le Mans Prototype 2 and 3 to the GT3 class. Each has different technical requirements, performance levels, and costs.
The goal is full participation in Le Mans
The next step in the plan is entering the full 24 Hours of Le Mans. Again, it is unclear in which class the brand will participate, and whether it will compete for overall victory in the Hypercar class among brands like Ferrari, McLaren, Toyota, and others.
If Chery aims to get the maximum return from its entry into motorsport, it would likely be wise to aim for participation in the Hypercar class, although this will obviously be much more expensive than some other classes, such as GT3.
Joint construction of a racetrack and technology development
Chery, in partnership with the ACO, has also agreed to build a Le Mans-level certified racetrack in Wuhu, near the company’s headquarters, which will host various racing events. This track will also be used as a testing ground to assist in the development of the brand’s future models.
The announced plans of the Chinese auto giant demonstrate a systematic approach to entering the elite world of motorsport. Starting with an internal series, then moving to the regional Asian level, and only later to the main world arena, appears to be a logical path for gaining experience. Building its own international-level racetrack not only provides technical advantages for testing but also symbolizes the seriousness of its intentions. Success in such a project could significantly enhance the brand’s technological and marketing value on the global market, especially against the backdrop of the general growth of Chinese manufacturers’ presence in various industries. The realization of these ambitions within the stated five years will be a true test for the company’s engineering team and management.
