Ex-F1 test driver Ma completes Alfa Romeo squad’s 2019 WTCR line-up
Ex-Formula 1 test driver Ma Qing Hua has secured a Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo seat for the World Touring Car Cup in 2019
Ma, who tested for the HRT and Caterham F1 teams and has been a some-time Formula E driver in recent years, was twice a race winner with the all-conquering Citroen World Touring Car Championship squad.
He did not secure a full-time seat for the first season of the WTCR world cup last year but contested three of the final four rounds in a Boutsen Ginion Honda Civic.
Ma was also one of four drivers to test one of Team Mulsanne's Alfa Romeo Giuliettas at Vallelunga in December, alongside fellow WTCC race winner Tom Coronel, GT driver Jono Lester and the team's 2018 driver Kevin Ceccon.
He has since secured the team's second seat and will partner Ceccon, who has been retained after an impressive first half-season in touring cars last year.
"I already drove the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR by Romeo Ferraris last season and the feeling was good since the beginning," said Ma.
"I think it has a big potential and the team is working hard to improve the car during this winter, in order to be competitive since the start of [the] WTCR championship."
Team Mulsanne, which is operated by the Romeo Ferraris organisation responsible for the Alfa TCR project, announced last month it would remain in the series but had decided against expanding its fleet of cars.
Romeo Ferraris operations manager Michela Cerruti said Ma's experience would be "very helpful" to the outfit's development programme.
"I know Ma because of his career, but last season we also had the chance to see his speed and talent on track, confirmed by his potential at the wheel of our Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR in both tests and races," said Cerruti.
2019 WTCR line-up so far
BRC Racing Hyundai: Gabriele Tarquini, Norbert Michelisz, Augusto Farfus, Nicky Catsburg
Munnich Motorsport Honda: Esteban Guerrieri, Nestor Girolami
Sebastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen: Rob Huff, Johan Kristoffersson, Mehdi Bennani, Benjamin Leuchter
Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo: Kevin Ceccon, Ma Qing Hua
Cyan Racing Lynk & Co: Thed Bjork, Yvan Muller, Andy Priaulx, Yann Ehrlacher
TBA Honda: Tiago Monteiro
TBA Audi: TBA
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