BMW WilliamsF1 Team-test for Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung

Formula One test for Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung.

Winner of Formula BMW Asia is offered test-drive with the BMW WilliamsF1
Team. 

Munich, October 27, 2003. For the Chinese racing driver Ho-Pin Tung a dream
will become a reality. The 20-year-old dominated the inaugural Formula BMW
Asia Championship in 2003 and in recognition has been awarded a Formula One
test drive. Tung claimed twelve pole positions and ten wins in 14 races
during the course of the season, which spanned five countries. As part of
the BMW WilliamsF1 Teamıs winter testing programme, he will drive a Formula
One car for the first time.

"We have been watching Ho-Pin Tung carefully," notes BMW Motorsport Director
Mario Theissen. "He was the outstanding driver of the 2003 Asian Formula BMW
series. In his Formula One test, he will be compared to other promising
young drivers." Last year, the winner of the German Formula BMW ADAC
Championship, Nico Rosberg (FIN), was given the same Formula One test
opportunity and made a very good impression. "Formula One isnıt always part
of the Formula BMW programme," adds Theissen, "But in individual cases we
use the connection between our involvement in talent promotion and the top
level of motor racing."

Tung began karting at the age of 14 and entered his first car race four
years later. He comes from Wenzhou, 500 kilometres south of Shanghai, but
grew up in the Netherlands together with his younger brother. Tung has had a
very international education and speaks five langauges. Away from motor
racing, he enjoys his computer and his mountain bike in equal measure. He
drove for Team Meritus in the 2003 Formula BMW Asia. Tung turns 21 on
December 4th. 

"Nobody can imagine what this opportunity means to me," said Ho-Pin Tung
when he was informed of the offer of a test drive on Sunday at the final
race of the season in Beijing. "Itıs my lifetime dream come true, I canıt be
grateful enough. Iım now going to work hard, particularly on my physical
fitness, to be well prepared for the test," he promised.

It wonıt be an easy transition for the young Chinese driver. The Formula BMW
car, internationally the most innovative vehicle of its class in terms of
safety technology as well, is powered by a 140 horsepower BMW motorcycle
engine. BMWıs Formula One engine has an output of more than 900 bhp.

Formula BMW Asia made its debut in 2003. 14 races took place over seven race
weekends in five countries. China played host twice, likewise Malaysia,
where the young racing drivers also competed against the backdrop of the
Formula One Grand Prix. Japan, Korea and Thailand were the other host
countries.