Franky Cheng Cong-fu has the natural hallmarks of being a true champion. Young, gifted and ambitious, the 17-year-old Beijing-born driver is being groomed to do something not thought possible a few years ago - to become the first Chinese Formula One driver.
Now Cheng has the chance to not only showcase his skills, but take a giant step towards fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming the first driver from the mainland to venture into motorsport's ultimate arena.
Judging by his achievements, Cheng's dream of one day driving alongside Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya is not at all far-fetched. But even a top driver with great potential must compete in a series to get started - and get noticed. And that's what Cheng intends to do. Cheng, who is the brightest prospect to emerge from the China-based racing academy, Formula Racing Development (FRD), will be one of 25 top Asian drivers who will line up for the inaugural Asia Formula Renault Championship starting next month.
Organisers are confident that the new series, which starts at the Batangas circuit in the Philippines on April 5, will be just the boost Cheng and other top Asian drivers would need to eventually lead themselves into the British or the French Formula Three Championships and ultimately into the big-time of Formula One racing.
'It's a significant series. [Finland's] Kimi Raikkonen was racing in Formula Renault 15 months ago and look where he is now,' said FRD's marketing manager Simon Leach of the Finn who is racing for McLaren in F1. 'Our series will provide opportunities for national drivers to gain experience in Asia.'
FRD launched the Formula Renault project in 2000 with an inaugural race held at the prestigious Monza F1 circuit in Italy. That series, developed by Renault Sport France, provided top European drivers with a progression from Formula Campus to Formula One.
