Making an impact

That discipline hasn't gone unnoticed in the racing world. As Ye's reputation grows on the international stage, so too does the excitement back home in China.

Kathy Shi, an F1 commentator on CCTV, described Ye as "an ideal endurance driver".

"He has excellent single-lap speed, he's strong in both offense and defense, and he maintains impressive consistency over long distances," Shi said.

Shi noted that motor sports in China entered a new era when Formula One debuted in Shanghai in 2004. Ye himself was in the stands as a young fan at the Chinese Grand Prix, an experience that sowed the seeds of his racing dream.

"For many kids in the crowd, seeing F1 planted a seed. They found their idols on the track," Shi said. Ye's historic win at Le Mans, she adds, marks another pivotal step for Chinese motor sports.

"He may inspire more children to take up karting and pursue racing. One generation of drivers inspires the next, and with more young people entering the sport, we'll see even stronger Chinese drivers emerge."

From China to Japan, and then to Europe, Ye has immersed himself in the global motor sports community. Fluent in Mandarin, English, French and Japanese, he's brought a Chinese voice to circuits around the world — and now he's learning Italian as well.

After a brief stint in the French Alps pedalling his way up snaking mountain roads, reflecting on his recent achievements and of races still to win, Ye is ready for second half of the season, which will include races in the United States, Japan and France.

But not before he climbed back into cockpit of his Ferrari to challenge for the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo in Brazil on Sunday, with his sights firmly set on his next goal: winning the FIA World Endurance Championship title.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn