McLaren has announced that young Belgian racer Stoffell Vandoorne has become the latest driver to sign up as a member of its Young Driver Programme.
The 20-year-old won the Formula
Renault 2.0 Eurocup last season and will now make the move into Formula
Renault 3.5 this season with the Fortec Motorsports team.
“We're delighted to announce that Stoffel is now part of the
McLaren Young Driver Programme,” team boss Martin Whitmarsh said. “He's an able and ambitious young driver, and we have high hopes for him."
Vandoorne will join Kevin Magnussen and Nyck de Vries on McLaren's programme and he admitted he was thrilled to be involved with the team.
"I'm absolutely delighted to have been selected to be part of the
McLaren Young Driver Programme,” he said. “McLaren is one of the greatest names in global motorsport, and to be a part of the
McLaren Young Driver Programme is an honour and a privilege which I fully intend to do my very best to maximise in terms of both learning and results for years to come. I'd therefore like to take this opportunity to say a big 'thank you' to Martin Whitmarsh, and all at McLaren, for having shown faith in me in this way."