*Year of the Pig takes on added significance for history-making racer *Ma Qinghua joins Kevin Ceccon in Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo line-up *Worldās largest car market can count on driver and brand representation
Shanghaiās Ma Qinghua has double reason to celebrate today. Not only does 5 February mark Chinese New Year, itās also the day that Team Mulsanne has confirmed that the history-making racer will form part of its WTCR ā FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO line-up.
Ma, 31, will pilot a second Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris in WTCR / OSCARO, partnering Italian Kevin Ceccon at the race-winning Team Mulsanne outfit.
He becomes the first Chinese to embark on a full-season WTCR / OSCARO campaign having started eight races in a Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR in 2018.
FranƧois Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events, the WTCR / OSCARO promoter, said: āWith a Chinese car ā the Lynk & Co 03 TCR from Geely Group Motorsport ā competing for the first time this season, to welcome a Chinese driver as well is a momentous day for the WTCR ā FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO. We are therefore delighted that Ma Qinghua will be on the #WTCR2019SUPERGRID.
āMa Qinghua is a proven winner in touring cars ā including in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta ā and heās a good character. Heāll also a great asset, especially when we visit Ningbo in September for WTCR Race of China. And we are in no doubt that heāll attract a big following among our viewers in China as we prepare to announce details of an exciting live broadcast package in the country.ā
Maās record-breaking moments
Ma Qinghuaās CV boasts a number of notable achievements. The first Chinese driver to take part in a Formula One grand prix weekend ā a feat he achieved for HRT at Monza in 2012 ā Ma became the first driver from his country to win an FIA world championship motor race when he triumphed at WTCC Race of Russia in 2014. Last October, he became the first Chinese to score points in WTCR / OSCARO with seventh place in Race 3 at WTCR Race of China-Wuhan.
After testing the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at Vallelunga prior to Christmas, Ma took a race win in the TCR China finale at Guangdong International Circuit in one of the Italian machines and canāt wait for his new adventure to begin.
āI really appreciate that Team Mulsanne and Romeo Ferraris chose theĀ Chinese New Year to announce our partnership,ā said Ma, who also has experience in FIA Formula E and FIA World Rallycross, plus a China Touring Car title to his name. āIt is a very important day in China and Iām sure all our fans will enjoy the day. I alreadyĀ drove the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris last season and the feeling was good since the beginning. It has a big potential and the team isĀ working hard to improve the carĀ during this winter, in orderĀ to be competitive from the start of the new WTCR season. Moreover, this will be the second time for me in an Italian team after 2005, so it will be niceĀ to live the typically warm European atmosphere during the year.ā
Ex-single-seater racers front Team Mulsanne bid
Ma Qinghuaās addition to the Team Mulsanne WTCR / OSCARO line-up means the Italian team can count on two drivers who started out racing single-seaters. While Kevin Ceccon achieved success in GP3, GP2 and AutoGP, Ma built his reputation in Formula Renault, Formula 3, Formula 3000, Superleague and A1 GP before his step up to Formula One as a development driver.
Michela Cerruti, Romeo Ferraris Operations Manager, said: āWe are really happy to announce the final Team Mulsanne driver line-up today, during the Chinese New Year. This has a special meaning and we hope it can represent a well-wishingĀ start not only for Ma Qinghua, but for all the team. I know Ma because of his career,Ā but last season weĀ alsoĀ had the chance to see his speed and talent on track, confirmed by his potential at the wheel of our Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR in both tests and races. I expect his experience to be very helpful in the development ofĀ the car.ā
Twelve nationalities and counting
The #WTCR2019SUPERGRID now features 17 drivers representing 12 nationalities following the addition of Ma Qinghua. The 12 countries are: Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.
