Jonathan Hui and the Pinnacle Project: Elevating Hong Kong's Champions

Jonathan Hui races not only toward victory, but toward a vision. As one of Hong Kong's most prominent racing drivers, he has clinched triumphs like the GT World Challenge Europe in 2021 and the Michelin 12H Spa-Francorchamps in 2025. But it's his work off the track that's accelerating a new era for Hong Kong's elite athletes: unearthing the city's next sports hero through the Pinnacle Project. In a conversation with Jessica Ng, founder and CEO of The JESSICA Company, and Venise Chan, former tennis star and Pinnacle Project committee member, they delve into how sport can inspire, unite, and create a brighter future for Hong Kong.

From Toy Cars to Global Tracks

Jonathan's love for speed began with the simple joy of toy cars at age four. "I've always been passionate about cars," he recalls, his eyes lighting up as he describes watching motorsport legends like Ayrton Senna on TV. Growing up in a family uninterested in racing, it wasn't until his mid-20s, after finishing school in Canada and returning to Hong Kong in 2000, that he began exploring grassroots racing in Zhuhai, where the closest circuit was located.

His breakthrough came in 2018 when Jonathan and his peers were granted the opportunity to represent Hong Kong as racing athletes. "It was a very big moment, because these are things you only dream of," he shares, reflecting on carrying the Hong Kong flag at the 24-hour race in Dubai. This milestone propelled him to race at Europe's highest levels, culminating in three championship wins by 2024 and a bucket-list debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025. But Jonathan's racing isn't just about personal triumph; it's also a platform to inspire. "My 75-year-old seamstress told me that she's noticing GT racing now," he notes, highlighting how his success has sparked local interest in motorsport.

This growing visibility fuels Jonathan's commitment to the Pinnacle Project, a committee-run initiative he founded to support Hong Kong athletes on the cusp of greatness. His racing journey, marked by perseverance and late starts, informs his approach to mentorship. "Being in the fortunate position to be able to compete overseas and to get some results in the past couple of years, I've noticed that slowly, there's been a growing interest," he explains. For Jonathan, the Pinnacle Project is about replicating this spark for other sports, helping athletes overcome barriers to shine globally.

The Pinnacle Project: A Mission to Find Hong Kong's Heroes

Launched to elevate Hong Kong's top athletes, the Pinnacle Project is a legacy in the making. Jonathan, alongside committee members like former tennis star Venise Chan and legendary racer Darryl O'Young, channels his racing experience into a mission to nurture the next generation of champions. "We saw the effect that fencing had on the city," Jonathan recalls, referring to the wave of unity sparked by Olympic success in the years following Hong Kong's social divides. For him, the project is about more than funding; it's about finding the next Hong Kong hero.

The Pinnacle Project's strength lies in its tailored approach, offering case-by-case support to athletes who demonstrate elite potential. "We have to be quite specific in finding people who are already close to what we would describe as an elite status, or they're showing really great potential," Jonathan explains. The committee, composed of former and current athletes, reviews applications—around 50 to 55 in its inaugural round—to select candidates who have already achieved measurable success and show clear potential to break into the international sporting scene. From established fields like fencing and tennis to unconventional sports like breakdancing and motorsport, the project embraces diversity.

"We're looking for people who really know what they need, or how we can help them go to the next level to compete internationally," he says. This clarity is crucial, as generic requests for funding won't make the cut. Instead, the committee seeks athletes who demonstrate self-awareness and ambition, with specific, actionable goals—such as training camps in Spain or access to sports psychologists—leveraging members' networks, like Darryl O'Young's media and PR expertise, to provide holistic support. "It is through the personal networks of our committee members that we can try to line up these kinds of opportunities," Jonathan notes.

The project's partnership with GDCD Association Limited amplifies its impact. GDCD, a tax-exempt charity, runs programs like the 2025 Jockey Club Athlete Dream Project, offering workshops that aim to broaden athletes' knowledge and understanding of topics such as sports management, sports medicine, and career planning. "The Pinnacle Project partners with GDCD to nurture world-class athletes," Jonathan says, emphasizing how these initiatives inspire young athletes to pursue elite levels. By aligning with GDCD's community-focused programs, the Pinnacle Project bridges grassroots enthusiasm with high-performance goals, creating a pipeline for future champions.

Venise Chan: A Tennis Veteran's Vision for Athlete Support

Venise Chan, a former tennis player and current pickleball advocate, brings a unique perspective to the Pinnacle Project's committee. Her own journey as a tennis athlete, marked by the challenges of funding and travel, fuels her passion for supporting others. "I really want to help wherever we can," she says. Reflecting on her career, Venise recalls the financial hurdles of international competitions. "In tennis, especially since there's a lot of traveling, it's expensive," she explains. "I don't think there are enough resources."

Venise is also involved in screening applicants, with a particular eye for tennis players, though she remains open to diverse sports. Her criteria focus on athletes representing Hong Kong internationally, ensuring they have a clear funding plan. "The support is not just mentoring, but to have someone guide them into how to effectively spend the money," she says, emphasizing the need for guidance. Drawing from her own experience, Venise advocates for mentorship to help athletes allocate resources effectively.

Her advice to young athletes reflects her balanced approach. "Try to be focused on what you're doing," she says, acknowledging her own divided focus between tennis and academics due to parental advice about a "plan B." While this safeguarded her future, Venise wishes she had taken losses more seriously. "If you really are going down this route, you need to be devoted and you need to work 100%," she shares, encouraging dedication without losing sight of joy. "Sometimes we forget about the joy of why we started something, so you really need to have passion in what you're doing."

A Shared Vision: Uniting Through Sport

The JESSICA Charitable Foundation supports women and youth in squash, aiming to build a broader sports community. "One of the things that we focus on is women and youth in sport," Jessica says. The foundation started small, sponsoring two women's squash teams; since then, it has expanded to five, with dreams of forming an academy. Jessica's approach differs from the Pinnacle Project's elite focus, targeting grassroots participation to foster life skills and cultural exchange. "For junior players, competing abroad opens opportunities to build friendships, learn about how other juniors all over the world train and have different sports culture and game strategies," she explains.

Playing sports, she believes, is part of a bigger picture, shaped by consistency and patience. "My kids always say, 'Trust the process,'" Jessica shares, advising her daughters to focus on daily effort over results. "The competition is a reflection of all the work you put in before, so you should be thinking about all the work you put in before." That focus on process—on showing up, day after day—is a thread that runs through both grassroots development and elite performance. Jonathan, reflecting on his own journey, agrees: "I was a little bit too obsessed with just trying to get a result and forgot about the enjoyment of driving, of racing," he reflects. "If you focus on what you're doing, the results will come."

Hong Kong's Sports Landscape

Hong Kong's sports ecosystem faces unique challenges, particularly for non-traditional sports like motorsport. "We don't have a race circuit of any sort, even a very basic one," Jonathan laments, highlighting how the lack of infrastructure hinders talent development. Funding is another hurdle, especially for mixed-nationality teams. "In my case, I never got anything despite achieving considerable success in Europe, because my teammates are not all Hong Kong drivers," he says, highlighting existing policies that limit support for such teams.

The Pinnacle Project addresses these gaps by offering support to athletes who fall outside traditional funding models. "We are trying to support sports or disciplines that don't qualify as traditional means," Jonathan explains. By offering resources to nonconventional fields, the project fills critical voids. "We have someone there to guide them, whether it's through developing their own social media profile or lining up interviews," Jonathan says, highlighting efforts to boost athletes' visibility.

Venise's experience underscores the financial barriers many athletes face. "When I was an athlete, we didn't have much social media, so I couldn't expose myself and get more funding," she recalls. The Pinnacle Project's modern approach, leveraging social media and media expertise, helps athletes like those supported by Darryl O'Young, who secured sponsorships for Filipino driver Bianca Bustamante from established brands like Sephora.

Looking Ahead

As the Pinnacle Project moves forward, Jonathan envisions a legacy of inspiration. "The first core objective is finding the next Hong Kong hero," he says. The project's authenticity addresses skepticism. "It's very genuine—it comes from the heart," Jonathan asserts. "It comes from just wanting to do something good for Hong Kong." For Venise, success lies in efficient resource use. "If we were to give them monetary support, we want to make sure they're using it efficiently," she says, emphasizing mentorship to guide athletes. Jessica sees parallels in her foundation's work, aiming to make squash accessible to juniors and women, fostering community and confidence.

Jonathan's racing future is winding down, with only a few races like Daytona's 24-hour event left on his bucket list. "I'm quite happy with where I'm at," he says. Looking ahead, his focus lies on the Pinnacle Project, where he channels the lessons of his 24-hour races—endurance, focus, and joy—into uplifting others. "It's like climbing Everest; you think that it's an impossible task until you achieve it," he reflects.

Together, Jonathan, Venise, and Jessica embody a shared mission: to harness the power of sports to inspire, unite, and elevate. The Pinnacle Project, with its targeted support and open-minded vision, is poised to shape Hong Kong's sporting future, one champion at a time. As Jonathan puts it, "If we can play a small part in identifying the next sporting hero, whatever that sport may be, then that's it."