Ma Qing Hua, the first Chinese driver to ever participate in a F1 Grand Prix weekend when he turned out for HRT in practice during the 2012 season, has been handed an opportunity to compete full time in the
GP2 Series in 2013 by Caterham Racing.
"It is very exciting for me to be given the opportunity to race in
GP2 with Caterham Racing," said Ma. "I am looking forward to the whole season."
Ma has also been appointed as one of Caterham's F1 reserve driver alongside American driver Alexander Rossi. (
See separate story.) Rossi may yet be appointed to the
GP2 team alongside Ma, but the team have not made any official announcements about who will take their remaining
GP2 race seat.
Ma made his début in a
GP2 car this week in the first
GP2 pre-season test session at the Circuit de
Jerez in Spain, and clearly did enough to impress the team over the three days of working together.
"He performed well in the recent
Jerez test and showed that he is very willing to learn," said Caterham's chief engineer Humphrey Corbett. "He provided detailed feedback and was extremely receptive to our engineering input. He was quick to put into practice our recommendations and adapt his driving style."
Corbett shrugged aside any concerns that Ma's relative lack of
GP2 experience might be a problem, given that there is only one more track opportunity for him - the second three day test next week at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona - before the start of the 2013 season in Malaysia in a little over three weeks time.
"Ma Qing Hua will be a great addition to Caterham Racing," insisted Corbett. "It will be a pleasure to work with Ma this season and he shows great promise.
"In Caterham Racing he has an experienced team around him and he will have excellent support to guide him through the learning process," he continued. "Although realistic about the challenges ahead, he is striving to be highly competitive."
Caterham Racing team manager Phill Spencer was in full agreement: "Everyone who has worked with Ma comments on his commitment and ability to learn quickly and we have found this to be the case in Jerez.