Ma Qinghua

Ma Qinghua (born 25 December 1987) is a Chinese racing driver currently competing in the TCR World Tour with Geely Cyan Racing.

Ma became the first Chinese driver to win an FIA World Championship race when he won race two of the 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Russia. He has also previously competed in the World Touring Car Championship, GP2, a few practice sessions in Formula 1, and Formula E.

Early life Ma was born on 25 December 1987 in Shanghai. His father, Ma Qiangyun, was the owner of a car repair shop. Ma began karting at the age of eight and his family decided to focus all financial investments towards Ma's testing on more advanced racing tracks. Eventually, in order to make Ma's progress easier, the family invested in a karting track located in Quyang. Ma won the national karting junior championship at the age of twelve.

Career Ma started his professional racing career in the 2005 Asian Formula Renault challenge with Asia Racing Team for six races, coming 16th with the highest finish of fifth. He also competed in one race in the 2005 Italian Formula 3000 championship for team Astromega and raced in the 2006 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC championship for the same team. He also raced in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix season for Team China at the A1 Grand Prix of Nations, China at the Shanghai International Circuit, coming 17th. For the next few years, he raced in European Formula 3 championships like the 2008 Spanish Formula 3 Championship and 2009 British Formula 3 championship. He then competed in the 2010 Superleague Formula in the 2010 Ordos Superleague Formula round for Team China and a year later won the China Touring Car Championship's 1600c class driver's title.

Formula One 2012 Ma was added to the HRT F1 driver development programme on 5 April 2012, and made history as the first China-born driver to drive a Formula One car at an FIA-sanctioned event, a milestone described as "heralding an important step for Chinese motorsport". Ma also became the first driver of Chinese nationality to take part in a Grand Prix weekend when he replaced Narain Karthikeyan in the first Friday practice session of the Italian Grand Prix. He was given three more chances to drive the car in Friday sessions later that year.

2013 Ma had a contract to become a full time HRT driver in 2013, meaning he would become the first ever Chinese Formula 1 driver, however after HRT collapsed at the end of the 2012 season, this would never be and Ma instead moved to Caterham, continuing the role of Friday test driver whilst racing for their GP2 Series team for the season. In 2013 Chinese Grand Prix, he replaced Charles Pic to participate in FP1 and became the first Chinese driver to drive at his home Grand Prix session, but he was about 1.5 seconds off the pace to his teammate Giedo van der Garde and out of the 107% reference time to the quickest driver in Free Practice 1. Soon after the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix, Caterham team claimed that he would be replaced by Alexander Rossi for the rest of the 2013 season. In the 2013 Bahrain GP2 Series round, Alexander Rossi made his debut GP2 Series race and took a podium finish.

GP2 Ma made his debut GP2 Series race in 2013 Sepang GP2 Series round. Later in the final stint, his lap time dropped to more than two minutes in every lap and finished only 21st in featured race, which is the last place in classified drivers. Later, he was diagnosed with gastroenteritis leading to extreme dehydration by the medical team on track at Sepang and would not start the sprint race.

World Touring Car Championship Ma raced in the 2014 World Touring Car Championship for Citroën Total WTCC driving at selected rounds in the fourth car. He won the second round of the Race of Russia, becoming the first Chinese driver to win an FIA World Championship race, and scored the fastest lap at the first round of the Race of China, Shanghai, ultimately coming 13th in the championship. He was given a full time seat for 2015 and won the second round of the Race of Portugal and finish fourth in the drivers championship. Despite this, he was not retained for 2016.

Formula E In 2016, Ma replaced Salvador Duran in the 2015-16 Formula E season for Team Aguri. He retired from his first ePrix but finished the last three races, albeit out of the points. In the next season, Ma was signed by TeCheetah but was replaced by former Haas F1 driver Esteban Gutiérrez following a disappointing series of performances in the first three races of the season.

Ma returned to Formula E in 2017 with the Nio Formula E Team for the Paris ePrix replacing Luca Filippi in a one off appearance and again in the New York ePrix replacing Oliver Turvey who was injured. He returned in 2019 to race for the Nio 333 FE Team alongside Turvey. He was replaced by Daniel Abt for the Berlin rounds as travel restrictions disallowed him from traveling outside China. He was not renewed for the 2020-21 Formula E World Championship by NIO 333.

TCR China Ma competed in the 2020 TCR China series in a Geely Group Motorsport-built Lynk & Co 03 TCR. He has signed for Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Motorsport and would partner Lu Wei in the six-event series. On 21 November 2020, at the Guia Race of Macau, Ma finished second in the qualifying race of the 2020 TCR China Touring Car Championship season finale, securing the drivers’ title.

FIA WTCR On 22 February 2022, it was announced that Ma would join reigning world champions Lynk & Co Cyan Racing to race a Lynk & Co 03 TCR in the 2022 FIA World Touring Car Cup.

Racing record

Career summary † As Ma was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. ‡ Team point score. Season still in progress.

Complete Asian Formula Renault Challenge results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Italian Formula 3000 Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DC Points 2005 Team AstromegaADRVLLBRNIMOMUGMAGMNZMIS 27th 0

Complete A1 Grand Prix results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points 2005-06 China GBRSPR GBRFEA GERSPR GERFEA PORSPR PORFEA AUSSPR AUSFEA MYSSPR MYSFEA UAESPR UAEFEA RSASPR RSAFEA IDNSPR IDNFEA MEXSPR MEXFEA USASPR USAFEA CHNSPR CHNFEA 22nd 6

Complete Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

† As Ma was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points

Complete Spanish Formula Three Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete British Formula Three Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Formula One participations (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicates fastest lap) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 WDC Points 2012 HRT Formula 1 Team HRT F112 Cosworth CA2012 2.4 V8 AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP MON CAN EUR GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN JPN KOR IND ABU USA BRA - - 2013 Caterham F1 Team Caterham CT03 Renault RS27-2013 2.4 V8 AUSMAL CHN BHR ESP MON CAN GBR GER HUN BEL ITA SIN KOR JPN IND ABU USA BRA - -

Complete GP2 Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points 2013 Caterham Racing SEPFEA SEPSPR BHRFEA BHRSPR CATFEA CATSPR MONFEA MONSPR SILFEA SILSPR NÜRFEA NÜRSPR HUNFEA HUNSPR SPAFEA SPASPR MNZFEA MNZSPR MRNFEA MRNSPR YMCFEA YMCSPR 35th 0

Complete World Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DC Points 2014 Citroën Total WTCC Citroën C-Elysée WTCC MAR1 MAR2 FRA1 FRA2 HUN1 HUN2 SVK1 SVK2 AUT1 AUT2 RUS1 RUS2 BEL1 BEL2 ARG1 ARG2 BEI1 BEI2 CHN1 CHN2 JPN1 JPN2 MAC1 MAC2 13th 69 2015 Citroën Total WTCC Citroën C-Elysée WTCC ARG1 ARG2 MAR1 MAR2 HUN1 HUN2 GER1 GER2 RUS1 RUS2 SVK1 SVK2 FRA1 FRA2 POR1 POR2 JPN1 JPN2 CHN1 CHN2 THA1 THA2 QAT1 QAT2 4th 241 2017 Sébastien Loeb Racing Citroën C-Elysée WTCC MAR1 MAR2 ITA1 ITA2 HUN1 HUN2 GER1 GER2 POR1 POR2 ARG1 ARG2 CHN1 CHN2 JPN1 JPN2 MAC1 MAC2 QAT1 QAT2 21st 0 † Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete Formula E results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Chassis Powertrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos Points 2015–16 Team Aguri Spark SRT01-e SRT01-e BEI PUT PDE BUE MEX LBH PAR BER LDN LDN 19th 0 2016–17 Techeetah Spark SRT01-e Renault Z.E. 16 HKG MRK BUE MEX MCO PAR BER BER NYC NYC MTL MTL 25th 0 2017–18 Nio Formula E Team Spark SRT01-e NextEV Nio Sport 003 HKG HKG MRK SCL MEX PDE RME PAR BER ZUR NYC NYC 23rd 0 2019–20 Nio 333 FE Team Spark SRT05e Nio FE-005 DIR DIR SCL MEX MRK BER BER BER BER BER BER 28th 0

Complete TCR China Touring Car Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 DC Points 2017 Teamwork Motorsport Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR SHA11 SHA12 SHA13 SHA21 SHA22 SHA23 ZHE1 ZHE2 ZHE3 NIN1 NIN2 NIN3 GUA1 GUA2 GUA3 15th 36 2020 Shell Teamwork Lynk & Co Motorsport Lynk & Co 03 TCR ZHU11 ZHU12 ZHU21 ZHU22 SHA1 SHA2 JIA11 JIA12 JIA21 JIA22 MAC1 MAC2 1st 154

Complete World Touring Car Cup results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DC Points 2018 Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic Type R TCR MAR1 MAR2 MAR3 HUN1 HUN2 HUN3 GER1 GER2 GER3 NED1 NED2 NED3 POR1 POR2 POR3 SVK1 SVK2 SVK3 CHN1 CHN2 CHN3 WUH1 WUH2 WUH3 JPN1 JPN2 JPN3 MAC1 MAC2 MAC3 30th 7 2019 Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce TCR MAR1 MAR2 MAR3 HUN1 HUN2 HUN3 SVK1 SVK2 SVK3 NED1 NED2 NED3 GER1 GER2 GER3 POR1 POR2 POR3 CHN1 CHN2 CHN3 JPN1 JPN2 JPN3 MAC1 MAC2 MAC3 MAL1 MAL2 MAL3 16th 133 2022 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 03 TCR FRA1 FRA2 GER1 GER2 HUN1 HUN2 ESP1 ESP2 POR1 POR2 ITA1 ITA2 ALS1 ALS2 BHR1 BHR2 SAU1 SAU2 12th 97 † Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete FIA World Rallycross Championship results Supercar Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WRX Points 2018 Team STARD Ford Fiesta BAR POR BEL GBR23 NOR SWE CAN FRA LAT USA GER RSA 36th 0

Complete TCR World Tour results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 DC Points 2023 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR ALG1 ALG2 SPA1 SPA2 VAL1 VAL2 HUN1 HUN2 ELP1 ELP2 VIL1 VIL2 SYD1 SYD2 SYD3 BAT1 BAT2 BAT3 MAC1 MAC2 9th 265 2024 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR VAL1 VAL2 MRK1 MRK2 MOH1 MOH2 SAP1 SAP2 ELP1 ELP2 ZHZ1 ZHZ2 MAC1 MAC2 8th 214 2025 Lynk & Co Cyan Racing Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR AHR1 AHR2 AHR3 CRT1 CRT2 CRT3 MNZ1 MNZ2 CVR1 CVR2 BEN1 BEN2 BEN3 INJ1 INJ2 INJ3 ZHZ1 ZHZ2 ZHZ3 MAC1 MAC2 5th 304 2026 Geely Cyan Racing Geely Preface TCR MIS1 MIS2 CRT1 CRT2 CRT3 LEC1 LEC2 CVR1 CVR2 INJ1 INJ2 INJ3 CHE1 CHE2 CHE3 ZHZ1 ZHZ2 ZHZ3 MAC1 MAC2 7th* 145* Season still in progress.

Complete TCR Europe Touring Car Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DC Points 2023 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR ALG1 ALG2 PAU1 PAU2 SPA1 SPA2 HUN1 HUN2 LEC1 LEC2 MNZ1 MNZ2 CAT1 CAT2 NC‡ 0‡ ‡ Driver was a World Tour full-time entry and was ineligible for points.