Tung Ho-Pin wants to follow Hamilton’s example

The future hope in Formula 1 could very well be called Tung Ho-Pin and be the first Chinese to participate in the premier category of motorsports.

And for good reason, for a year now, he finds the motivation to work from the success of rookie Lewis Hamilton and intends to follow in his footsteps.

While China now has a Grand Prix, the list of drivers potentially becoming F1 racers is thin. Only Tung is considered the most likely possibility to perhaps one day secure a seat.

This year, he joined GP2, the lower division of F1. He is following the same path as Hamilton, the GP2 series champion last season, who made his notable debut in F1 this year.

« If you look at Hamilton, he once again demonstrated that if a driver is fast in GP2, he can do an excellent job in F1, » said Tung in the columns of China Daily.

« Of course, I am still learning. But every time I drive, I develop a competitive mindset and retain all the experiences I go through. The presence of experienced drivers helps me a lot. »

In his first GP2 season, which has just ended, the 24-year-old Chinese driver finished 24th. But he is satisfied with his results and aims to do much better next year.

« I have always had very good results and I even scored a few points, although the team I was competing with (BCN Competicion) is certainly not the best, » he continued.

Now, I know that all the races will be a great help to me next year. With my experience from this year, I should be in constant progress.

After dominating the Asian Formula BMW championship in 2003, Tung had a track test with the German team on an F1.07, which made him the first Chinese driver to drive this type of single-seater in history.

He got this opportunity once again at the Chinese Grand Prix this season, when he did a demonstration for the BMW Sauber Team.

« It was great to be back behind the wheel of an F1 again, even if it was just for a few minutes, » said Tung.

« When BMW granted me my first track test four years ago, I had absolutely no doubt about my desire to enter the world of F1. I am working very hard to achieve this goal, » he concluded.

Transfers are open and who already knows the surprises that the 2008 championship might reveal to us?