HOPE I can become a professional F1 driver and race my car at the Silverstone Circuit in Britain,?said Cheng Congfu, the 20-year-old Beijing native who is likely to become the first Chinese driver at the elite level of motor racing.

“I adore the top drivers like Michael Schumacher and Montoya but I hope I can beat them on the track in the future.? In June 2003, the McLaren Mercedes Formula One team signed the Chinese racing star and as part of its driver development programme, he drove for Manor Motorsport in the British Formula Renault Championship.

He had a good debut in round eight at Donington Park on July 26 following his record in the Chinese Formula Renault Championship of two races for two wins.

He won eighth place in the eighth round of the Renault Championship which is the best result he has had so far this year. “I am not satisfied with the eighth place. I have been long dreaming of racing F1 and I expect to get a top-three place in the F1 competition ... It gave me great confidence to achieve an eighth place in the high-level matches in Europe,?Cheng said.

Of the top four Chinese motor racing drivers, Cheng seems closest to competing in F1 Grand Prix. The British Formula Renault championship is the upper-level match of F3000 which well prepares a driver for F1 racing.

But Cheng is not a full-time racing professional yet. Besides driving cars, he is also continuing his further education in Britain.

“If possible, I’d like to do a course relevant to motor racing, something which will help with my career in the future,?he said. “Right now, I have to switch between my study courses and my racing. That means focusing on the racing when there’s a competition and then catching up with my studies.? Besides his study, a strict and intensive training programme has been devised for him made by the McLaren Mercedes team’s trainers.

“It means complete commitment on both sides,?Cheng said. “I’m dedicated to my training and my trainers are dedicated to me. They are really great coaches and I’m sure I won’t have to wait long to get results.? McLaren’s top drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard are Cheng’s idols, impressing him with their physical strength and will-power when racing in F1 Grand Prix.

“Kimi is a quiet guy with few words like Hakkinen. Maybe that is because both of them are from cold regions.? One year’s living in Britain and hard work has enabled Cheng to be able to converse easily with technicians and other staff with the racing team.

“We communicate a lot. They will show me how to drive and my studies and knowledge of racing autos also helps a lot.?

Cheng started his racing career with the Go-Karting. Since his first championship in the Beijing Shunxiang Cup Karting Competition, he has won all the championships a Chinese driver can.

“That is a reason why Mclaren signed me. McLaren had been looking for a potential player for a long time and I am very lucky to be elected by them,?Cheng said.

In his spare time, he likes to play football and swim. He has met and chatted with Sun Jihai, a Chinese football player in England’s Manchester City Club.

But the guy who is about to drive in motor sport’s top events hasn’t even got a driving licence.

“My father worries about me. He does not want to drive on the streets,?Cheng said.