Shanghai F1 Grand Prix this weekend

News of Michael Schumacher's retirement is fueling ticket sales to the Shanghai Grand Prix this weekend. Box office and ticket agents have reported sales of up to 3,000 tickets per day since Schumacher he was retiring after this season.

The 2006 Chinese Formula One Grand Prix is organized by the Shanghai International Circuit Management and Development Co. Ltd.

Yu Zhifei, general manager of the company, told People's Daily Online that "Schumi's retirement is the last thing the F1 fans want to see, especially Chinese fans. It is the main reason fans are rushing to buy tickets. No one can afford to lose the opportunity of watching the racing king's last show in Shanghai in his red Ferrari."

Lower-priced tickets ranging from 9.5 euros to 98 euros have already been sold out and 70 percent of the high-end tickets that can cost up to 295 euros have already been bought.

A sub-grandstand on the circuit named after Schumacher, where seats retail for 196 euros, have been sold out before the October 1 race.

Prior to Schumacher's announcement of his retirement on September 10, ticket sales were lacklustre because the race coincided with China's National Day celebrations and the Golden Week holidays.

The race in Shanghai is thought to be the most important for Schumacher of the three remaining races in the season. Schumacher is currently just two points behind Fernando Alonso in the Drivers Championships and a win in Shanghai will pave the way for a final win before he retires.

According to the Formula One website, the Shanghai circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke. It resembles the Chinese character for "high," which gives the circuit a mixture of medium-speed corners, long straights and hairpins.