The sound of cheering and roaring engines filled the air for the two-day 2014 Sports Car Champions Festival organized by Volkswagen Group China. The event ignited the passion for motor sport among Chinese enthusiasts at the Shanghai International Circuit.

This year a record 40,000 visitors and VIP guests joined in the excitement with Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen brands under the German group umbrella.

The joint-venture company Shanghai Volkswagen and the Volkswagen Group's brands MAN and Ducati took part for the first time and offered more dynamic automotive lifestyle elements.

In addition to the intense racing series on the track, a variety of side activities allowed spectators to soak up the atmosphere of motor sport, sports cars and car culture as a whole.

"Volkswagen Group, as a leader in pioneering initiatives, has achieved remarkable success in promoting sports car culture in China in recent years," said Markus Nels, senior director of Group Sports Cars, Motorsport and Car Culture for Volkswagen Group China.

"The tireless work by the brands and industry partners has led to an increasing number of spectators over the past year, indicating the growing popularity of sports cars and motor sport in the Chinese market," he said.

The festival's main event was the track racing, which included the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Audi R8 LMS Cup, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, Formula Masters China Series and Scirocco R-Cup.

"The high-octane racing action provided the most thrills and exhilaration for the participants over the weekend. They embodied the essence of motor sport - ultimate speed, power, outstanding performance, advanced technology and most importantly, a spirit to win," said Nels.

"The young Chinese talents from the Star Racing Academy proved themselves in the intense races and lit up the crowds with adrenaline-pumping performances," he added.

Shanghai Volkswagen and truck brand MAN added extra excitement by showcasing the latest futuristic coupe Lamando, and the TGX and TGS series, respectively.

The group's motorcycle brand Ducati put on a breathtaking motorcycle performance showcasing the two-wheeled lifestyle.

Side activities filled the intervals between racing events with extra fun and passion.

In the exhibition zone, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche and Volkswagen invited guests to get close-up to their iconic models and experience the heritage of the brands.

The graceful classic cars captured the attention of old-timers with their beauty and legendary status. A karting challenge allowed children to explore their potential racing talents, while the mobile game, Sports Car Challenge, which has more than 21 million downloads worldwide, attracted people at the on-site interactive area.

"Having run the festival for three years, we are encouraged by the achievements gained under the great cooperation between the group's brands and more industry partners, and we are glad to see more and more consumers are being drawn to the charm of sports cars," said Nels. "We will continue the drive to create and offer platforms around sports cars, motor sport and car culture in the future," he added.

lifangfang@chinadaily.com.cn