Chinese motorsport star Cheng Congfu has been appointed Ambassador for the Formula Masters China Series (FMCS), China and the region’s leading international junior single-seater championship. Cheng, who races with FAW-VW Audi Racing Team in the Audi R8 LMS Cup, will work alongside the junior talents, imparting his valuable expertise as the young drivers build the foundations of their careers in professional motorsport.
With Cheng as ambassador, both FMCS and Audi Sport customer racing Asia move closer toward achieving their goals of further developing motorsport in China and throughout the region, while strengthening the connection between the two brands, both part of the Volkswagen Group China motorsport family. Cheng’s successful career is a powerful aspirational motivator for the young FMCS drivers, who will undoubtedly look to him for inspiration and guidance.
The two racing series have also partnered to offer young FMCS drivers an opportunity to apply their single-seater knowledge to the Audi R8 LMS Cup car. Yesterday, FMCS Drivers Classification leader Martin Rump, 19, and current FMCS Best Chinese Driver Trophy leader Jeffrey Ye, 18, were invited to take part in an exclusive test at the Sepang International Circuit. Following a full introduction to the Audi Sport customer racing Asia programme, the two drivers were coached by former Formula 1 driver and defending Audi R8 LMS Cup champion Alex Yoong as they learned to drive the Cup car.
While Rump and Ye return to FMCS action for the final two race weekends of the season, they, along with the rest of the FMCS field, will still benefit from the resources of the Audi R8 LMS Cup, through Cheng, who, in his FMCS Ambassador role, will attend the FMCS season finale from October 16-18 in Shanghai. Cheng will spend time working with the FMCS drivers, providing helpful advice and performance feedback.
Two days later, Cheng will be back at work evaluating China’s promising talents at the Star Racing Academy (SRA) 2016 shoot-out. The SRA young driver development programme was established by Volkswagen Group China and is a proven platform, with graduating drivers going on to compete in more advanced sports car series with Volkswagen Group China. Cheng also works closely with SRA and FMCS driver Ye who has joined the Audi Sport customer racing Asia young driver development programme.
Cheng is currently in his third season of the Audi R8 LMS Cup and earlier this year was part of the first all-Asian Audi team at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, finishing 12th overall. In addition to his Cup experience, his impressive career so far includes the Blancpain Endurance Series, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMP1 Class, in Formula 3 in the United Kingdom and Europe, and with Team China in A1 GP.
