The two China race meetings of the FIA WTCC are around the corner. The most excited driver is Ma Qing Hua, the 26-year-old driver of Citroën that made history last July by becoming the first Chinese driver ever to win an FIA World Championship race.

“I am really happy to have the opportunity to do the races in Beijing, Shanghai and Macau, it is really great!” admits Ma. “Of course, I particularly look forward to Shanghai, as this is my home town and I expect a lot of family, friends and fans to come and cheer for me. The most important for me at the moment is to prepare well and stay focused on racing!” Something that may prove difficult, as Ma’s status has completely changed following his historic win in Moscow.

“This win is going to stay as the most important moment in my career and probably in my entire life,” he acknowledges. “It was historic for me and also for Chinese motorsports, and I really feel a sense of happiness and pride. I must admit my life has changed since then. A lot of Chinese saw that race on TV and felt proud of what I did, and after that win there was a lot of media attention on me. I did a lot of interviews and as a result, I now get recognized and greeted in the streets! It’s a nice feeling, but I want to keep my feet on the ground.”

Podium of the Russian WTCC race