Shanghai International Circuit, April 22–26, 2026. Cheng Chunhua returns in an Audi for CTCC TCS. TERZO lubricants support every lap. Defending the title starts with the next braking point.
1 A Race Week That Means More Than Results
As the Shanghai International Circuit prepares for race week, the focus is not only on lap times or podium positions. For teams and engineers, this is a moment where preparation, data, and execution come together under pressure.
Racing compresses variables. Temperature, load, and time—all intensified within a short window. What might take months to reveal in daily driving becomes visible in a single race weekend.
For TERZO, this event is not positioned as a showcase. It is better understood as a real-world validation environment, where lubricant behavior can be observed in conditions that leave little room for inconsistency.
2 From Laboratory to Track Conditions
The phrase “from laboratory to track” is often used loosely. In practice, the transition is less about translation and more about verification.
In controlled environments, lubricant formulations are tested for: Thermal stability, Oxidation resistance and Viscosity behavior under load. On track, these parameters are no longer theoretical.
During a race session: Oil temperatures rise significantly beyond normal road use, Engine speeds remain consistently high and Load cycles shift rapidly under braking and acceleration. These conditions do not introduce new variables—they remove margins for error.
3 Understanding the Demands of Shanghai Circuit
Shanghai International Circuit is often described as balanced, but that balance creates its own complexity. A long main straight places sustained demand on engine output. Technical sections require repeated acceleration and deceleration. Heavy braking zones test system stability under rapid transitions. Rather than extreme peaks, the circuit applies continuous stress across multiple operating conditions. This makes it particularly suitable for evaluating lubricant consistency—not just peak performance.
What Racing Reveals About Lubricants? There is a tendency to associate racing with extremes. In reality, its value lies in clarity. Under racing conditions, a lubricant must: Maintain viscosity under sustained heat, Respond quickly to pressure changes, Protect components without fluctuation. The difference between road use and racing is not only intensity—it is predictability under stress.
4 Technical Partnership, Focused on Road
The collaboration between TERZO and the Audi Factory Racing Team is structured around function, not visibility.
The lubricants used in this program are developed with a focus on: Consistent performance over full race duration, Resistance to thermal breakdown and Stable behavior under repeated stress cycles.
There is no expectation that racing alone defines product quality. Instead, it provides a clear reference point for how a formulation behaves when pushed. While engineering sets the foundation, racing ultimately returns to the driver. Defending a championship introduces a different kind of pressure. It is less about proving capability, and more about maintaining focus across changing conditions. The mindset remains simple, even at this level: focus forward, and prepare for the next braking point.
5 What to Watch This Week and Look Ahead
As the event unfolds from April 22 to 26, a few elements will define the weekend: consistency across practice sessions, stability during long race runs and adaptation to weather and track evolution.
Race week is only the beginning of the story. Data collected over these five days will continue to inform Racing setup adjustments, Lubricant formulation refinement and Future product development decisions.
For partners and observers, the takeaway is not a single result, but a broader understanding: performance is built on consistency, and consistency is tested under pressure.
See You in Shanghai
The countdown is nearly complete.
Shanghai will not just host a race—it will provide a clearer view of how preparation translates into performance.
See you on track.
