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Ho-Pin Tung has been named the third official driver for the Renault F1 team on Sunday .He became the first Chinese driver to be named in a Formula One team line-up.
The 27-year-old Dutch-born is the first Chinese national to participate in a grand Prix.He was named as the reserve driver for the team for this season. Tung will also be racing in the GP2 support series with the DAMS team in Renault colours.
Tung during the launch of Renault‘s new F1 car said,"This step will be the breakthrough I think in terms of media attention, of interest.”
"I will be the first Chinese guy ever who is officially part of a Formula One team and that's going to be a big thing, I think.”
"It's a very nice thing. China has had a race since 2004 but never had a Chinese involvement within a team. Now they have, and I'm really looking forward to it."
Tung on his joining to Renault said, “As a driver you always want to race but in the end this is a fantastic opportunity. To be officially third driver is already a big thing. I am showing the world I am on the threshold of Formula One.”
"I hope to gain as much experience as I can and gain a race drive in the near future."
Tung about his participation in Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai said he would certainly be there."Never say no but for the moment that's not the case," he said.
Team principal Eric Boullier said,"Depending on where we are standing on the grid, we can allow then a little bit more flexibility with our third drivers.”
