The Manor F1 Team has confirmed it plans to race in the season opener in Australia this March and has also confirmed its first driver.
Former-Caterham driver Will Stevens, who made his debut at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will drive for the former Marussia outfit in 2015.
“The next exciting step for the team is to make the first of its driver line-up announcements, with the news that Will Stevens will be an official 2015 Manor race driver,” said the team in a statement.
“Will, 23, is known to the team from his brief time in the role of Marussia reserve driver towards the end of the 2014 season.”
The outfit also confirmed that work is underway on its 2015 car, which is a modified 2014 chassis, and it believes it can be ready in time for the first race – something nobody had expected.
“The approval by the Company’s creditors on 19 February 2015 to a Company Voluntary Arrangement paves the way for the team to exit from administration and since that time everyone involved with Manor has been working flat out on the key components of its 2015 challenge.
“The car with which Manor will begin the season is now in an advanced stage of build at the team’s current race preparation facility in Dinnington, UK, where personnel are working 24-7 towards the air freight despatch date of 6 March.”
Speaking about the opportunity to race this season with Manor, Stevens said: “It’s very exciting to see everything coming together at Manor after the tremendous effort that has gone into saving the team. It would not have been possible without the incredible support we have received from all the suppliers and from within the sport, but most of all the fantastic team of people at Manor who are working around the clock to ensure we are ready for Melbourne.
“My thanks to the team for their confidence in me and I can’t wait to see all the hard work rewarded when we line up on the grid in two weeks’ time.”
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