Ho-Pin Tung is going to replace Vietoris in Abu Dhabi

It was with regret that Thursday evening Racing Engineering had to announce that it’s German driver Christian Vietoris won’t be able to race in Abu Dhabi during the final round of the 2010 GP2 Series. The Racing Engineering rookie had been taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon for check-ups and was diagnosed with an appendicitis in the evening.

Christian is very much missed this weekend by his Racing Engineering crew, who wishes him a speedy recovery.

With the action starting at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi early Friday morning, time was very limited to react to this unforeseen event and, together with Christian’s management, it was decided that the German rookie will be replaced by Renault F1 spare-driver Ho-Pin Tung during the final round of the 2010 championship. Ho-Pin, the Dutch Chinese Gravity driver, was German F3 Champion in 2006 and competed in GP2 in 2007 and 2008. In 2010, Ho-Pin started the season with DAMS, until a fractured vertebra, a result of an accident at the Hungaroring in August, forced him to pass his steering wheel to former F1 driver Grosjean.

It’s the first time for Ho-Pin to be in a Racing Engineering car.

The GP2 field will start the race weekend with Friday’s free practice at 10.30 (7.30 CET). The afternoon’s 30-minutes qualifying session begins at 14.55 (11.55 CET).