Ma Qing Hua to make WRC debut in Rally China

Ma took the 2011 Chinese Touring Car Championship title before becoming test driver for now-defunct F1 teams HRT and Caterham, as well as making a one-race cameo in GP2.

He joined Citroen's WTCC effort in 2014 and finished fourth in the standings a year later, collecting two wins and nine podiums in 34 races.

However, Ma was left without a drive in the tin-top series in 2016, as Citroen scaled back its factory presence to two cars, although the Chinese driver has made two Formula E apperances in Paris and Berlin for Team Aguri.

With Citroen pulling out of WTCC next year in order to focus on its WRC commitments, Ma looked set to enter the series in 2017.

Instead, he will make an earlier debut in this year's Rally China, which he confirmed on Twitter:

WRC returns to China for the first time since 1999 this September, the event becoming the third full tarmac rally on the calendar alongside France and Germany.

Citroen did not enter a factory WRC team for the 2016 season in order to focus on developing its new-generation C3-based contender for 2017, although it has been represented by the PH Sport team at most events this year.

Rally Argentina winner Kris Meeke will stay with the team next year, while youngsters Stephane Lefebvre and Craig Breen haven also taken part in developing the new car.