AP: AFOS champion gets F1 test

Tung becomes the first Chinese racer to drive a Formula 1 car

Meritus AFOS Formula BMW Asia Champion TUNG Ho-Pin (21) has realized his dream earlier than he could have ever imagined. After dominating the series with 10 wins out of 14 races, he was awarded with a test session in a BMW Williams Formula 1 car when testing begins later this winter.

He was given the good news at the Championship presentation ceremony by Guido Stalmann (head of Sponsorship and Business Development for BMW Motorsports), and Tung could not hide his joy.

"It has been my dream to drive an F1 car since I started racing. I think every racer dreams of that. But I never imagined it would happen so soon!" said the delighted Tung. "It's going to take time for this to sink in. I'm speechless. The only thing I have to say is 'when is the test'!!"

Team Meritus Founder and President Peter Thompson was also pleased with the news. "We all knew Ho-Pin was something special even during pre-season testing. The F1 test is great news and he thoroughly deserves it," said Thompson.

Tung is the third Asian driver that Meritus has coached on their way up to F1. Narain Karthikeyan tested for Jordan GP and Jaguar F1 after winning the 1996 Asian Formula 2000 championship. Then in 1999 Japanese ace Takuma Sato won the AF2000 race at the Macau Grand Prix with Meritus, before dominating British F3 and then racing for Jordan F1. Taku makes his racing return in 2004 with BAR F1.