ABB FIA Formula E Championship team NIO is delighted to announce Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua will continue as the squad’s official reserve driver for Season 5.

The 30-year-old, from Shanghai, will again be an integral part of NIO throughout the 2018/2019 campaign which began in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, 15th December 2018.

Ma, who is an ambassador for motorsport in China, made his competitive debut in Formula E in 2015 and remained in the championship for Season 3 prior to signing with NIO to become the team’s reserve driver last season in the world’s only all-electric single-seater category.

With wide ranging experience in Formula 3, A1 Grand Prix and GP2 – now the FIA Formula 2 Championship – Ma entered the history books when becoming the first Chinese-born driver to take part in several FIA Formula One World Championship practice sessions.

Additionally, he has raced successfully in touring cars. Winning the China Touring Car Championship 1600cc class title in 2011, Ma’s most notable success then came in the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2014 when he became the first Chinese driver to win a race before going on to earn more victories and a top four series finish the following year.

Ma Qing Hua, Reserve Driver, NIO Formula E Team:

“I would like to once again thank Gerry and NIO for the opportunity to remain as the reserve driver for NIO, and in this increasing popular FIA formula E series. It was a great pleasure working with the team in season 4 with many positive experiences to take away from, and now I look forward to be part of the team in the exciting season 5 with new gen 2 cars.”

Gérry Hughes, Team Principal, NIO Formula E Team:

“We are delighted to officially announce that Ma will continue in the role of Reserve Driver for the NIO Formula E Team for Season 5. Ma is both a valued member of the race team and a key ambassador for motorsport in China. He is already familiar with all the procedures in Formula E and at NIO and is therefore the right choice for the role of reserve driver. We are excited to have him back onboard.”

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