Meindert van Buuren will remain in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series for a second season after joining the Charouz Racing-run Lotus team.
The Dutchman moves across from Pons Racing where he raced in 2014 with a best finish of fifth at the Hungaroring, finishing nineteenth in the championship. He had previously been a regular points scorer for Manor MP Motorsport in Auto GP in 2013 having raced for two years in Formula Renault 2.0.
The nineteen-year-old announced the news on his official Facebook page, and becomes Lotus’ first driver for the new season. Last year they ran with Frenchman Matthieu Vaxiviere, heavily tipped to retain his drive for a second season, and Philippines driver Marlon Stockinger.
As well as van Buuren, both Vaxiviere and his fellow Frenchman Andrea Pizzitola tested for the team in the post-season test at Jerez at the end of 2014, but at least one of those drivers will be forced to seek alternative employment following the announcement by van Buuren.
The continued rise in Dutch participation in the top end of single-seater racing continues, with van Buuren becoming the third Dutch driver after Nyck de Vries and Beitske Visser to confirm rides in the Formula Renault 3.5 series in 2015. De Vries will race for DAMS while Visser has retained her drive with AVF.
