BCN Competicion have signed Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung for the 2007 GP2 season, replacing Ricardo Risatti who was dropped from the line-up after failing to come up with the necessary sponsorship.

“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.

“To get to F1, as every young driver knows, GP2 is the best launching series. And it is my ambition as long as I am a racing driver to become the first ever Chinese Formula One driver.

Tung is the reigning German F3 champion.

Daniel Gaunt will make his A1GP début at the next round in China as rookie driver for Team New Zealand, following in the footsteps of Wade Cunningham and Chris van der Drift. Meanwhile fellow Kiwi and A1 driver Matt Halliday has been signed by Conquest for the 2007 Champ Car World Series.

“I have always had my sights set on Champ Car racing as it is one of the highest profile championships using the fastest single-seater racing cars in the world, and I am very happy to be doing the series with Eric Bachelart and Conquest Racing,” Halliday noted, “I thank them for giving me the opportunity to test and eventually sign with the team, and I am also indebted to 42 Below for their loyalty and confidence in me.”

The Champ Car season kicks off this weekend in Las Vegas.