Dean Stoneman will race this weekend in the GP3 Series races at Sochi despite his team Marussia Manor Racing pulling out of the event citing ‘commercial reasons’.
The triple race winner has switched to the Koiranen GP outfit for the races in Russia and for the season finale in Abu Dhabi in November, where he will take the place of Spanish female driver Carmen Jorda alongside Jimmy Eriksson and Santiago Urrutia.
Stoneman’s arrival gives the team a stronger look, with Jorda regularly being at the back of the field, while Eriksson is also a race winner this year and is an outside bet for the title.
Stoenman previously raced for the team in the season finale of the GP3 Series in 2013 at Abu Dhabi, and claimed a podium finish in Sunday’s second race.
Koiranen GP CEO Afa Heikkinen was delighted to have been able to sign Stoneman to his team, and is looking forward to working with the Briton over the final two weekends of the GP3 season.
“Dean Stoneman proved to us last year that he could adapt to our car and drive it to the top level,” said Heikkinen. “This year he proved to everyone that he could win races. So, of course we are delighted to have him with Koiranen GP until the end of the year.”
