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On September 26 2004, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's dream of a Formula One global village took a further step closer to reality, when China hosted its first ever Grand Prix.
Ten years ago, had you predicted that China, a country that had for so long shut itself off from the rampant commercialism of the west, would host a round of the most decadent, commercial sport on earth, people would have laughed at you.
However, this is the new China, one of the fastest growing economies on earth, a country that having missed out on much of the 20th century, appears to be spearheading the march into the 21st.
Having embraced Formula One, it was only right that the Chinese give the sport one of the most magnificent circuits ever to grace the World Championship calendar.
Although designed by track designer Herman Tilke, the Chinese were adamant that the basic shape of the track should resemble the Chinese character 'Shang' which translates as "high" or "above", and is, of course, where the city of Shanghai gets its name.
The space-age circuit can accommodate up to 200,000 race fans, with almost 30,000 of these seated in the fabulous main grandstand, which allows them to view almost 80% of the track. This is a facility built not merely for race drivers, but also the fans in the stands.
However, the drivers have not been forgotten, and the Shanghai track offers several opportunities for overtaking, while on the main 1,175 metre straight, between Turns 13 and 14, cars reach over 205 mph.
Naturally, car manufacturers and sponsors see China as a vast untapped market, and in the months leading up to the inaugural Grand Prix, representatives from various teams and manufacturers were falling over themselves in an attempt to 'network'.
However if F1 is to be successful in China it will have to work hard, and that means getting out and meeting the people, losing the aloof image, and demonstrating what the sport is all about. Much of what 'the West' takes for granted is alien to the Chinese, and this particularly applies to motorsport, after all, this is a country where only eighteen in every one thousand citizens own a car.
If Formula One really is to be considered a World Championship, then it is vital that countries such as China are on board.
However, it is hoped that in the not too distant future, this globalisation of the sport will lead to Chinese drivers and even a Chinese team.
Certainly, the magnificent Shanghai International Circuit is a start.
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