Tung joins BCN

Tung, 24, takes the seat that was vacated by Ricardo Risatti after the Argentine’s sponsorship deal fell apart and will become the first Chinese driver to race in the series at next weekend’s season opener at Sakhir in Bahrain.

Tung said: “"I am very happy to have the opportunity to compete with BCN Competition in GP2," said Tung. "I am grateful to my private sponsors, who supported this huge step forward in my career.

"The first half of the GP2 season will be hard for me, as there is no more pre-season testing. This means I might have a disadvantage compared to all the other drivers, so I will have to learn quickly.

"But I am confident that in the second part of the season I will meet the expectations and that I will come up with good results."

Tung, who will be partnered by ex-Formula One driver Sakon Yamamoto in the team, is the reigning German Formula Three champion and has tested for the Williams Grand Prix team in the past.