After a good year in GP2, Tung sets eyes on Formula One
Lewis Hamilton has dominated the Formula One track during his rookie season. His success has been inspiring to countless young and admiring drivers who dream to race in F1 someday.
One of them is Tung Ho-pin. Many predict Tung will be the first Chinese driver ever to race in F1.
This year Tung joined GP2, the division just below F1. By joining GP2, Tung is following the same path as Hamilton, who was the GP2 champion last season and made his F1 debut this year.
"If you look at Hamilton, it is once again proof that if a driver is quick in GP2, he can do a great job in F1," Tung said.
"Of course, I am still learning," the 24-year-old continued, "but every time I drive I learn more because I am racing against much more experienced drivers."
In his first GP2 season, which just concluded last month, Tung finished 24th after gaining 4 points at the Belgium stop.
"I think GP2 is the toughest championship I have ever competed in and maybe the toughest there is in general," Tung told China Daily. "You are racing against guys with 3, 4 maybe even 5 years more experience. All the tracks were new to me and you only have 30 minutes of free practice to learn the track and get the set-up of your car right."
But Tung is satisfied with his results and is hoping for a high ranking next season.
"I still had some very good results and even scored some points, although the team I was competing for was certainly not the best from the paddock," said Tung.
"Now I know all the tracks, which will be a great help to me next year," Tung said. "With my experience this year I should be able to be a constant top-8 finisher."
Tung was born in the Netherlands. His parents are Chinese immigrants who moved to Holland many years ago. He began racing at the age of 14 and has made steady progress every year.
After dominating the Formula BMW series in 2003, he was awarded a test session in a BMW Williams Formula One car, making him the first Chinese ever to win this honor.
Tung drove in F3 for three seasons. In 2005 he placed third in the championship. The next year he won the whole thing.
Racing in all those categories, has prepared the young driver well as he pursues his ultimate dream of racing F1.
Although he was born abroad, Tung says he still cherishes his Chinese roots. In February he provided China with its first-ever podium finish at the A1 Grand Prix series, known as the "World Cup of Motorsport".
"It was very special for me to race for Team China in A1GP," Tung said. "I am still very grateful that A1 Team China gave me that chance, and I'm happy that I rewarded their trust with a podium finish in Australia."
Tung got the chance to drive an F1 car again during the F1 Shanghai Grand Prix last weekend, as he gave a demonstration of the BMW Sauber F1 car in Pit Lane Park.
"It was great to be back behind the wheel of an F1 car again, even tough it was only for some demonstrations," he said. "When BMW granted me my first test drive four years ago, I had absolutely no doubt that I wanted to get into Formula One. I'm working very hard to achieve that goal."
(China Daily 10/17/2007 page18)
