Multiple GP3 Series race winner Dean Stoneman has become the latest member of the Red Bull Junior programme and will race for DAMS in the 2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series season.
The twenty-four-year-old finished second in the 2014 GP3 Series standings despite having to switch from Marussia Manor Racing to Koiranen GP for the final two events when the former pulled out of the series.
Stoneman was the 2010 Formula 2 champion and had a test with the Williams F1 Team, but testicular cancer halted his career for a couple of years before he returned to racing in 2013.
The Briton admitted he was delighted to be brought into the Red Bull set-up for 2015, and is looking forward to getting to work in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with DAMS this season.
“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. “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. 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 (Sainz) came from GP3 to World Series and won with DAMS last year. 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 joins McLaren F1 Junior driver Nyck de Vries in the team who steps up from winning the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship in 2014. The duo should be a formidable partnership this season.
