Formula 1

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 ...

Edited: Dec 16, 2005, 10:58 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

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.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Webber wants Schumacher to stay

Next article Renault history, the first steps

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Takuma Sato



Ed Carpenter explains why he was so angry with Takuma Sato

IndyCar

IndyCar

110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

Ed Carpenter explains why he was so angry with Takuma Sato



Takuma Sato set for Indy 500 return with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

IndyCar

IndyCar

110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

Takuma Sato set for Indy 500 return with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing



Honda shares sneak peek of Takuma Sato preparing for Williams FW11 Tokyo Auto Salon run

Formula 1

Formula 1

Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing

Honda shares sneak peek of Takuma Sato preparing for Williams FW11 Tokyo Auto Salon run

More from

Williams



Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP



Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

Fernando Alonso blasts driving standards of bottom half of F1 grid



How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Formula 1

Dutch GP

How Fernando Alonso scored ninth at Zandvoort - and how Alex Albon lost a similar payday

Latest news



Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans

WEC

WEC WEC 53 min

Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans



The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

1 h

The 10 key moments that defined Sergio Perez's F1 career



Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

2 h

Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?



Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

3 h

Cadillac 'honoured' to have Sergio Perez as special 300th race celebration planned for Mexico GP

Feature

Discover prime content



The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027



A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP



How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

Formula 1

United States GP

By Stuart Codling

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe