World champion Michael Schumacher caught most of attention among a host of Formula One stars who have arrived in Shanghai this week as the city enters final preparations for the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix.

Schumacher, together with teammate Rubens Barrichello, finally made a public appearance at a Ferrari press conference on Wednesday after keeping local fans and media guessing for a couple of days.

The Ferrari team is looking forward to the race, he said, where they will be going all-out to win. Although so far he had only seen the track in photos and drawings, he had a good impression of it with its many tight curves, fast stretches and a long straightaway "on which overtaking should be possible."

Williams BMW driver Juan Pablo Montoya celebrated his 29th birthday on Monday by climbing the Great Wall before heading to Shanghai. He will be joined on the Williams team by returning F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.

Mercedes' David Coulthard arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The company's VP of racing Norbert Haug said that he hopes that the Formula One race in Shanghai is the "most noticed event" in motor sport history, according to Home of Sport Limited. Because parent company DaimlerChrysler will produce C and E Class sedans in China beginning next year, "we want to present ourselves in a competitive way to the [spectators] at the race track or on the TV," HoSL quoted him as saying.

The drivers will be moving quickly off the track as well as on, as teams and sponsors keep them busy with promotional events during their stay in Shanghai. The companies are maximizing the publicity value of their entry into what F1 believes may be its most promising market.

Drivers will be taking their first run on the track in a practice session on Friday.

As team crews set up shop in the brand-new paddock, Shanghai is putting the final touches on its own preparations. Workers are still busy on the track to make sure temporary structures are in position. Meanwhile, 2,000 police and another 2,000 security guards are being dispatched to posts both inside and outside the race venue.

The 5.5-kilometer-long track, designed by the prolific German Hermann Tilke, was built at the cost of US$320 million according to the latest report.

Organizers reported last week that all 150,000 tickets in nine classes had been sold out. Ticket prices ranged from 370 yuan (US$45) to 3,700 yuan (US$450).

(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2004)