SEPTEMBER 8, 2004

McLaren runs Chinese driver

The West McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team gave 20-year-old Chinaman Cheng Congfu has first chance to try Formula 1 power in a demonstration run at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Cheng was at the wheel of a McLaren MP4-17D. In doing so he became the first Chinese-born driver to drive an F1 car. Ho-Ping Tung tested a Williams last year but, despite having Chinese nationality, he was born in Holland. Cheng started karting in 1996 and switched to cars in 2001, taking part in the British Formula Ford Winter Series. In 2002 he won the Chinese Formula Renault title and in 2003 switched to British Formula Renault with Manor Motorsport. In June last year he was announced as a member of the Team McLaren Mercedes driver development programme. "Frankie" is still racing in Formula Renault.