12/02/2015
NEWS STORY
British racer Dean Stoneman, who finished runner-up in the 2014 GP3 championship, has joined the Red Bull Junior Team programme.
The Croydon-born racer, who finished runner-up to countryman Alex Lynn (now a development driver with Williams) in 2014, follows in the footsteps of Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen and Lynn, as he joins Red Bull's driver development programme.
"To be part of the Red Bull Junior Team has been one of my life goals and it is fantastic to be given the chance," said Stoneman, who this year moves up to Formula Renault 3.5 Series with DAMS. "You just have to look at the names that have gone before to see that only the best drivers get into the programme.
"I'm thrilled about the year ahead, to be in the DAMS team in World Series is a perfect opportunity," he added. "I obviously have all the support I need and we have a great build-up planned before the start of the season, plenty of time in the SIM before track testing starts in about 8 weeks.
"I'm aiming very high, Carlos came from GP3 to World Series and won with DAMS last year," he continued, referring to Carlos Sainz who races for Toro Rosso this season. "I think I showed last year in GP3 what I can do so I have no reason not to jump into Renault 3.5 and do well, get on the podium early and start racking up the points."
Stoneman, who won the 2010 F2 Championship, leading to an F1 test with Williams, was scheduled to make the move up to Formula Renault 3.5 in 2011, but was forced to miss almost two seasons of racing when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.