Ma Qing Hua will drive the HRT during the Silverstone tests
Ma Qing Hua, a member of the HRT team's young driver development program, will have the opportunity to make his debut in a Formula 1 car at the Silverstone circuit in early July during the young driver tests.
Like its rivals, the HRT team had the choice to conduct its young driver tests at Silverstone in July after the British Grand Prix or at the Yas Marina Circuit after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. The Spanish team decided to run at Silverstone. For this occasion, Ma Qing Hua, who recently joined HRT, will have the opportunity to drive the F112.
These tests will take place on July 10, 11, and 12, but at the moment, the HRT team has not revealed its testing schedule, and it is possible that the Chinese driver may not be the only one driving for the Madrid team during these three days of testing.
Ma Qing Hua obviously expressed his delight at this opportunity and can’t wait to fulfill his dream: « I am very happy and lucky to have the chance to drive a Formula 1 car during the young driver tests and to do it with the HRT team. I’ve dreamed of this all my life and I am aware that it is a great responsibility to be the first Chinese driver to participate in the young driver tests. I am very grateful to the HRT team for this opportunity and for the trust they have placed in me, and I do not intend to let them down. »
Luis Pérez-Sala, the director of the HRT team, explained that the young Chinese driver had recently had the opportunity to drive Formula 3 cars or World Series, and he therefore believes that Ma Qing Hua is ready for the next step, driving an F1: In recent weeks, we have worked with Ma as part of our development program on the circuits of Valencia and Jerez with different single-seaters, and we consider that he is ready to participate in the tests for young drivers that will take place in Silverstone. […] We have confidence in his qualities and we are convinced that he will do a good job at Silverstone.
