G-PROJECT 2026: GUMANDE Opens the Racing Season at Shenzhen Speed Challenge

January 11, 2026 | GUMANDE Performance Tires

The 2026 racing season got off to a fast start in Shenzhen as the GUMANDE G-PROJECT Speed Mini Racing Challenge brought together competitive karting talent from across China.

Held at the Shenzhen Speed Racing Club, the event welcomed drivers from the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area as well as major racing communities including Beijing and Shanghai.

For GUMANDE, the event was another opportunity to bring performance tires into the environment where they matter most — on the track, under pressure, and in the hands of competitive drivers.

But this year's event carried an additional significance.

The Speed Challenge has been running for 20 years, making it one of China's long-standing professional karting events and an important early-season test for drivers preparing for the year ahead.

20 Years of Building Racing Talent

Since its first edition in 2006, the Speed Challenge has grown from a regional competition into a nationwide karting event.

Over two decades, the series has provided a platform for drivers across a wide range of ages and experience levels — from young children discovering motorsport for the first time to experienced competitors racing in the Open A class.

More than a competition, the event has become part of the development path for China's next generation of racers.

Drivers use the early-season race to test the results of their winter training, evaluate their equipment, sharpen racecraft, and prepare for the challenges of the season ahead.

That philosophy aligns closely with the purpose of G-PROJECT.

Real competition creates real feedback.
Real feedback drives better performance.

A New Standardized Class Built Around Performance

One of the highlights of the 2026 event was the introduction of a standardized racing class featuring an all-Chinese equipment package:

Explorer chassis + GUMANDE performance tires.

The package combines an FIA-certified racing chassis with GUMANDE tires, giving drivers access to competition-focused equipment while helping keep participation costs under control.

For grassroots racers and younger drivers, this matters.

Professional karting can become expensive quickly when every competitor uses different chassis configurations, tire packages, and racing equipment. A standardized format creates a more level playing field and allows drivers to focus more directly on what happens behind the wheel.

Driver skill becomes the focus.
Equipment becomes more consistent.
Competition becomes more accessible.

FIA-Certified Equipment, Accessible Racing

The Explorer chassis used in the standardized class is an FIA-certified Chinese racing chassis designed around a balance of structural performance, safety, and lightweight construction.

Paired with GUMANDE performance tires, the combination gives drivers an opportunity to experience competition-oriented equipment without relying exclusively on imported racing products.

For GUMANDE, this represents an important direction for the development of motorsport:

International-level performance does not have to mean international-level barriers to entry.

The goal is to make high-quality racing equipment more accessible while maintaining the performance standards expected on a competitive circuit.

When the Tire Becomes Part of the Driver

In karting, the connection between driver and tire is immediate.

Every braking zone, turn-in, corner exit, and acceleration point depends on how effectively the tire communicates with the track.

Grip matters.

But so do consistency, predictability, and feedback.

During the 125cc standardized races, drivers put the GUMANDE tire package through a wide range of competitive situations. Experienced racers and emerging talents were able to compete using the same standardized equipment, putting greater emphasis on driving technique and race strategy.

After winning the 125cc standardized class, Deng Haohui highlighted the combination's precise chassis feedback and the strong, consistent grip provided by the GUMANDE tires.

That kind of driver feedback is exactly what GUMANDE values.

Because performance isn't only about a number on a specification sheet.

It is about what the driver feels when the tire meets the track.

Racing Talent Across Every Generation

The 2026 Speed Challenge featured multiple classes, bringing together young karting enthusiasts, developing racers, experienced competitors, and international participants.

The results reflected the depth of talent across the field.

Among the standout performances:

• Children's Class: Kuang Congyu took the overall victory.
• Youth Class: Deng Zhitian claimed first place.
• Junior Class: Wu Jiajun finished on top.
• Heavyweight Class: Liu Zhuangling secured the win.
• Open A Class: Zeng Sihan took the championship.
• 125cc Standardized Lightweight: Deng Haohui finished first.
• 125cc Standardized Heavyweight: Huang Zhenqian claimed the victory.

The event also featured Ma Qinghua, China's first TCR World Tour champion, who joined the Shenzhen racing community and shared the track with the next generation of drivers.

His presence added another layer to an event built around the connection between today's racers and tomorrow's talent.

Why G-PROJECT Belongs on the Track

GUMANDE created G-PROJECT around a straightforward principle:

Performance needs to be tested in the real world.

Karting provides an especially valuable environment for that process.

The vehicles are lightweight and responsive. Drivers operate close to the mechanical limits of the equipment. Changes in grip, temperature, braking, and cornering can immediately affect lap times and driver confidence.

For a tire manufacturer, this creates a demanding environment for understanding how products perform.

Every race provides another set of observations.

Every driver provides another perspective.

Every lap creates another opportunity to learn.

From Shenzhen to the Next Challenge

The 2026 Speed Mini Racing Challenge may have marked the beginning of another racing season, but the development journey continues far beyond a single event.

For the drivers, the next challenge is already waiting.

For GUMANDE, the next test is waiting too.

Through G-PROJECT, GUMANDE continues to connect performance tire development with real motorsport — supporting racers, working with technical partners, and learning from the conditions that push tires to their limits.

After 20 years, the Speed Challenge continues to give new racers a place to start.

And with G-PROJECT, GUMANDE continues to help push that journey forward.

Race. Test. Learn. Improve.

G-PROJECT by GUMANDE.

Built for Performance. Proven on the Track.