01/10/2010 – Dean to Make Renault World Series Debut with Lotus

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Friday 1st October 2010

Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman is to make his Formula Renault 3.5 World Series debut at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on October 9/10.

Stoneman, 20, who tested with the team today will contest the final round of the 3.5 World Series with Junior Lotus Racing. He replaces Russian Daniil Move, who has driven for the team this year.

After his test in the 3.5 car at rain soaked Pembrey, he expressed his delight in securing the drive: “it’s great to be able to compete in this final round of the World Series in Barcelona. I have driven the car today and it feels great even in the wet.”

Alex Somerset, technical chief of the Wellingborough-based Junior Lotus squad, said: “He’s just done a shakedown test at Pembrey and it went very well, so we’ve got high hopes for him for the race weekend.”

Steve Noakes who engineered Stoneman during his successful F2 season and has been retained by the driver to oversee all on track activities commented: “the idea is to keep Dean race sharp prior to his test in Abu Dhabi in November. We see this as a great way of doing whilst widening his skill set in a different car.”

British racer Stoneman, who will test a Williams Formula 1 car next month as his prize for winning the F2 title, joins Frenchman Nelson Panciatici in the Lotus Junior line-up.