Cheng Congfu

Cheng Congfu is one of the trailblazers who led Chinese motorsport onto the global stage, as well as a pioneer among Chinese drivers gunning for Formula 1. Born in Beijing, he began competing in domestic and international karting events at the age of 12, demonstrating his racing pedigree from an early age.

Early Career and Signing with McLaren

Cheng started his single-seater journey through Formula Campus run by FRD (Formula Racing Development), emerging as part of the pioneering cohort of Chinese drivers to undergo systematic formula training alongside the likes of Marchy Lee and Ma Qinghua. In 2001, he clinched the China Karting Championship title and finished first runner-up in the Asian Karting Open Championship.

His big career breakthrough arrived in 2003 when he signed with the McLaren F1 Team Driver Development Programme, becoming the programme's endorsed Chinese driver before taking on the Formula Renault UK Championship. Back then, seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton was also rising through McLaren’s junior ranks alongside him. In 2005, Cheng finished as first runner-up in the Formula Renault UK Winter Series, missing out on the championship title by a mere five points and making history as the first Chinese driver to take a race victory in the category.

European Campaign and "Closest to F1"

In 2006, Cheng drove for Manor Motorsport to secure third overall in the Formula Renault UK Championship. Moving up to the British Formula 3 Championship in 2007, he finished the season as the National Class vice-champion with five race wins and 12 podium finishes—marking the highest level of European single-seater racing contested by a Chinese driver at the time. He was widely tipped by the media and industry insiders as "the Chinese driver closest to F1".

However, his bid to secure an F1 seat ultimately ground to a halt, with budget shortfalls posing the biggest hurdle. Cheng openly shared in an interview that he was "hoping someone would come in to sponsor me"; his training and campaign expenses throughout 2006 were self-funded by his family, who could no longer shoulder the financial strain. Around 2007, the withdrawal of tobacco sponsorship in the wake of European tobacco advertising bans choked off critical funding streams. At the same time, his mid-grid performances in British F3 still fell short of the stringent benchmarks set by F1 outfits.

Transition to Endurance and Touring Car Racing

In 2008, Cheng switched his core racing focus from single-seaters to endurance racing. Lining up for Saulnier Racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he delivered a third-place finish in the LMP2 class, making history as the first Chinese driver to complete the 24 Hours of Le Mans and secure a podium finish. His composure and adaptability during pre-race testing made a lasting impression on the squad, with the team manager noting that he "already felt like an integral part of the team".

From there, Cheng competed in prestigious events such as the Nürburgring Endurance Series and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). In 2013, he joined Audi Sport as an official Audi factory driver and Audi China brand ambassador. His career is studded with milestones in Chinese motorsport, including being "the first Chinese driver to contest and podium at the Nürburgring 24 Hours" and "the first driver to race for Mercedes-AMG in DTM".

Recent Outings and Mentorship

Cheng remains an active competitor in the professional racing paddock today. In October 2025, the 41-year-old lined up for FAW Audi Sport Asia Team Phantom in the GT World Challenge Beijing Yizhuang Round GT3 Final, claiming a class third-place finish alongside co-driver Yu Kuai. Despite thorough pre-race telemetry analysis of the street circuit, the cold track conditions saw the crew battle persistent front tyre temperature issues throughout the race.

Beyond his duties in the cockpit, Cheng has increasingly embraced a mentorship and development role in recent years. "I've been involved in motorsport for nearly 30 years, and my engagement with the younger drivers is very much about sharing and passing on the baton. My years of racing and living in Europe have given me a deeper perspective on motorsport, and I want to channel that into supporting our next generation of talent," he remarked.

From the McLaren junior academy to the Le Mans podium and his tenure as an Audi factory driver, Cheng Congfu's racing journey spans single-seaters, endurance racing, and touring cars. While he did not start a Formula 1 Grand Prix, his trailblazing European campaign laid the groundwork and provided an invaluable blueprint for the next wave of Chinese racing drivers.