The series was conceived as a pathway for junior drivers in Asia to develop their single-seater skills in a controlled, specification environment. The timing of its creation, following the establishment of Formula Abarth in 2010, reflected a broader trend of manufacturer-linked junior formulae providing structured competition for up-and-coming talent in regions outside traditional European motorsport.
All competitors in Formula Pilota China raced identical Tatuus FA010 chassis, a carbon composite monocoque homologated to FIA Formula 3 2010 safety standards. Power came from a 1.4-litre FPT 414TF engine producing 180 horsepower. The car measured 2,650 mm in length and 1,490 mm in width, with a total weight of 525 kg.
Drive was transmitted through a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox with a limited-slip differential. Suspension at both ends used double wishbone geometry with pushrods. Braking was handled by AP cast iron ventilated discs measuring 278 mm by 16 mm, while rubber came from GitiCompete GTR1 racing slicks and matching wet-weather tyres. Fuel capacity stood at 45 litres, compatible with FIA FT3 fuel cell ethanol blends.
Each championship event followed a three-day schedule. The opening day was devoted to two free practice sessions allowing drivers to familiarise themselves with the circuit. On the second day, a single qualifying session determined the grid for the first race, which was run over 45–55 km or a maximum of 25 minutes. The third day featured the second race of the weekend, with the starting grid for that race set by fastest lap time from race one; if drivers recorded equal times, the driver who set the time first was given grid priority.
Events were held predominantly in China, with races at circuits in Guangdong, Shanghai, and Shanghai Tianma. The series also ventured beyond mainland China to include rounds at Sepang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, giving the championship an Asia-regional character rather than being exclusively domestic.
In the inaugural 2011 season, points were awarded to classified finishers after the completion of all judicial and technical procedures. Only the best eleven race results counted toward a driver's final championship tally, with any additional points scored beyond that threshold discarded. From 2012 through 2014 the points structure was revised, though the series maintained the same format of two races per round weekend.
Formula Masters China occupied a niche in the Asian junior formula landscape during the early 2010s, providing an affordable and technically standardised environment for young drivers to progress. The use of the Tatuus FA010 platform, shared with several other junior series globally, ensured that graduates arrived at higher-level championships with experience in competitive machinery. The series ran through at least 2014 under the Formula Masters China branding.