Manor signs Stevens, prepares for Australian GP
The Manor Marussia F1 Team has announced the signing of Will Stevens as a racing driver for the 2015 Formula One season while noting it is on track to be present at the Australian Grand Prix in just 2 weeks time.
Will Stevens, 23, is known to the team from his brief time in the role of Marussia Reserve Driver towards the end of the 2014 season. He went on to race for Caterham in the season finale in Abu Dhabi as the team briefly returned to F1 before going into administration itself.
The team also states it is on track to get its finances sorted and get its car ready in time for the season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
"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.
"As the sport counts down to the curtain-raising 2015 Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix in 18 days’ time, Manor is now in a position to be able to provide regular updates on its preparations for Melbourne and wider plans for the season, including the completion of its driver line-up."
Commenting on the announcement of his race seat today, Will 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."
Manor previously secured a deal with Ferrari for a supply of 2014 spec engines which it plans to run in its 2015 chassis, having been disallowed to run its 2014 car in the upcoming season.
