Toro Rosso reserve driver Daniel Ricciardo and Formula Two champion Dean Stoneman will both race for ISR Racing in the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series.
Australian Ricciardo narrowly missed out on the title in his debut year in 2010, racing for Tech 1 Racing, to Mikhail Aleshin. Having topped the timesheets in the Young Driver Tests in Abu Dhabi for Red Bull, Ricciardo will now switch to the Czech team, run by Igor Salaquarda.
Briton Stoneman made his FR3.5 debut for Lotus Junior Racing at the final round of the 2010 season, but will now embark on a full season for ISR. He tested for Williams at the Young Driver Test as a prize for winning the F2 title.
ISR won the team's title in 2010 – their debut year in the series. Driver Esteban Guerrieri took the fight to both Aleshin and Ricciardo, finishing third in the standings.
Team boss Igor Salaquarda said: “Thanks to the great job done last season by our team and by the drivers Guerrieri and [Filip] Salaquarda, we have been able plan our 2011 with a lot of confidence. The victories we scored in 2010 despite being at our debut in the World Series Renault 3.5 have attracted strong attention between many top drivers. Being able to work with Daniel Ricciardo, who was one of our most appreciated rivals in 2010, and Dean Stoneman, who won the last FIA F2 title, will be extremely challenging for us.
“We will also be wearing the same Red Bull colors of the 2010 Formula One World Champions, and that makes me really proud, as we are the first team from Eastern Europe to have reached the top in International open-wheel racing. We are eager to be back on-track for the first collective test of the season, set for March 8 and 9 at the Motorland Aragon track in Alcaniz.”
Stoneman said: “I think World Series is a great move for me. It includes some of the best circuits and attracts high calibre drivers; a number of which have gone on to F1. I really like the Renault 3.5 car having raced in the final round last season. We were impressed with ISR, they have great experience in this series and a good record of success at this level and share my desire to win. I believe they can help me further my career.”
