(XINHUA)

HRT (Hispania Racing Formula One Team) announced on November 6 that Ma Qinghua will become the first Chinese F1 driver. Ma completed practice sessions for the Spanish-based team in Monza, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, where his superior skill earned him a spot on the team. Ma made his debut during a practice session for HRT at the Italian Grand Prix on September 7, making history as the first Chineseborn driver of an F1 car at an event sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation.

Ma was born in Shanghai in 1987 and first drove a racing car at the age of 8. He had won many car racing competitions in Asia before he was announced as a member of the HRT team's Young DriverDevelopment Program in April. Ma is expected to represent HRT as a full-scale grand prix driver.