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Nice guy hoping to finish first
By Matt Hodges (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-21 12:53
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"When I shut the visor it's like night and day. I change into a totally different character," he said.
For Tung, it seems like he was born to be a winner. Blessed with the soft facial sculpturing of a Chinese movie star, he has enough charm, humility and drive to make him the perfect package.
"Tung? Oh yes, we know him," said a Shanghai schoolgirl standing with her friends outside the Four Seasons hotel on Thursday, where many of the drivers were staying. "What do we think of him? So cute!" they giggled.
They may not be rooting for Tung yet, but they soon could be. According to his manager Bert Winkler, a former racer, interest in the man and his machine here has spiked.
State broadcaster CCTV has flown to Holland several times to interview Tung and follow his GP2 races. By the same token, viewer ratings of the Chinese Grand Prix jump annually.
More shocking for Tung was finding himself feted by BQ, Beijing's lifestyle magazine, as its most improved Chinese sportsman of 2009.
"I was very surprised given that we have so many great sportsmen in China," he said. "We're attracting a much broader audience than before."
Tung, who is still contracted with GP2 outfit DAMS until the end of the season, said he remains focused on achieving his potential and putting the naysayers to shame.
"Only the best drivers in the world race in F1, so it's my ultimate target to be one of them soon," he said.
"When the moment is there, that's the moment for me to worry about it," he said. "But of course, I hope to get my chance."
