MOSCOW, Russia - Ma Qing Hua, driving a works Citroen, made history on Sunday (June 8) by becoming the first Chinese driver to win an International Automobile Federation World championship race
He won the 16-lap Race 2 of the World Touring Car championship in Moscow and said later: "When I crossed the line it was history for my country and for motorsport to see a Chinese driver standing on the top of the podium in a World championship.
"It was a special moment for the country, for everything. I'm really happy, it's a really fantastic feeling."
RACING BACKGROUND
Ma, 26, has an impressive racing pedigree, having been a test driver for the Caterham F1 Team in 2013 and the HRT Formula 1 Team the year before that, as well as appearing in British and Spanish F3 championships.
"It wasn't easy yesterday in practice and qualifying but gradually we managed to improve," Ma said. "For the races the car was just perfect. At the start of the second I had a good scrap with Norbert Michelisz for second, which soon became first when the leader had to pit.
"I did my very best to make a clean pass which took a few laps and after that I could enjoy the race from the front."
He won the 16-lap Race 2 of the World Touring Car championship in Moscow and said later: "When I crossed the line it was history for my country and for motorsport to see a Chinese driver standing on the top of the podium in a World championship.
"It was a special moment for the country, for everything. I'm really happy, it's a really fantastic feeling."
RACING BACKGROUND
Ma, 26, has an impressive racing pedigree, having been a test driver for the Caterham F1 Team in 2013 and the HRT Formula 1 Team the year before that, as well as appearing in British and Spanish F3 championships.
"It wasn't easy yesterday in practice and qualifying but gradually we managed to improve," Ma said. "For the races the car was just perfect. At the start of the second I had a good scrap with Norbert Michelisz for second, which soon became first when the leader had to pit.
"I did my very best to make a clean pass which took a few laps and after that I could enjoy the race from the front."