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Ma Qinghua will provide back up to Oliver Turvey and Luca Filippi. Photo: NIO Formula E Team.

China’s most decorated racing driver Ma Qinghua signs up for 2017-18 Formula E season with NIO

The 29-year-old, who made history as the first Chinese-born racer to drive a Formula One car, will travel with his new team for the opening Hong Kong double header

China’s most decorated racing driver Ma Qinghua has joined NIO Formula E Team for the upcoming 2017-2018 season.

Shanghai-born Ma will provide back up as reserve driver to Oliver Turvey and Luca Filippi at NIO and will travel with the team for the opening HKT Hong Kong E-Prix double header over December 2-3.

“I am extremely proud,” said the 29-year-old, who competed in four Formula E races with Team Aguri in 2015 before joining the Techeetah squad the following season.

“I see NIO as an exciting new brand and rising star in the industry, having accomplished so much already in a few short years.

“I am also very excited to be part of the NIO family, joining so many great people that I have worked with before.

Ma Qinghua was part of Formula One team HRT’s young driver development programme in 2012. Photo: HRT Formula One Team

“I firmly believe electric cars are the future for all of us and look forward to witnessing the rise of a new era with NIO.”

Ma has raced in international motorsport since 2005 including in EuroFormula Open, Italian Formula 3000, British F3 Championship, A1 Grand Prix and the GP2 Series.

In 2012, he became the first Chinese-born racer to drive a Formula One car, taking part in practice sessions at Monza with HRT F1 and Caterham F1 the following year.

He was also the first Chinese-born driver to win a World Touring Car Championship race, taking victory in Moscow in 2014 before another win in Portugal in 2015.

Ma Qinghua puts his A1 Grand Prix car through its paces during the first practice of the inaugural race at Brands Hatch in England. Photo: AP

“We have been working with Ma over the course of the summer manufacturer testing period and this appointment concludes our driver line-up for Season Four nicely,” said Gerry Hughes, NIO team principal.

“NIO is first and foremost a Chinese EV brand, so it extremely fitting to have Ma join the NIO Formula E Team and it will be great to see him back in the paddock in Hong Kong next week.”

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