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It’s the future: China-based Seca back team for 2016-17 Formula E Championship

Techeetah will make their debut when the third FIA Formula E Championship series kicks off in Hong Kong around on the weekend of October 8-9

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Ma Qinghua, the only Chinese driver on the Formula E circuit, attends a press conference of HKT Hong Kong ePrix in May. Photo: Dickson Lee

China’s hand in the fledgling Formula E circuit has been strengthened with major mainland-based sports marketing and management players Seca throwing their weight behind a team for the 2016-17 season.

“We think it’s the future, simple as that,” Seca founder and CEO Sheng Li told the Post from Shanghai.

The Seca-backed Techeetah team will make their debut when the third FIA Formula E Championship series kicks off in Hong Kong on the weekend of October 8-9 and they will feature mainland driver Ma Qinghua along with experienced Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

Techeetah take the place of Team Aguri on the 10-team roster for the upcoming 14 round series, and will join China’s NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team who have been with the series since it began in 2014-15, and who saw driver Nelson Piquet Jr win the inaugural driver’s championship.

Ma Qinghua was the first Chinese driver ever to participate in an official F1 session. He poses here in Tsim Sha Tsui in November 2012. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Ma Qinghua was the first Chinese driver ever to participate in an official F1 session. He poses here in Tsim Sha Tsui in November 2012. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The 26-year-old Vergne, driving for the DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team, had podium finishes at both the Paris and London legs of the 2015-16 series, which ended on Sunday.

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