Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMcLaren

Vandoorne completes Super Formula switch

Stoffel Vandoorne has completed a deal to race in Japan's Super Formula this season alongside his McLaren role in F1.

The Belgian comprehensively won last year's GP2 championship, with his success meaning he is unable to return to the series. While he has been promoted to the role of reserve driver at McLaren following Kevin Magnussen's departure, Vandoorne was keen to race as well in 2016.

The 23-year-old has now confirmed he will race for Dandelion Racing in Japan this season, announcing the news via his Twitter account.

Vandoorne had tested a Super Formula car late last season, and will now drive for the team which last won the team's championship in 2012. Seven rounds are provisionally scheduled for the 2016 season, starting at Suzuka in April and ending at the same venue in October.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.