F1
Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor 8y

Stoffel Vandoorne secures Super Formula drive

GP2 champion and McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne will race in the Japanese Super Formula this year.

Vandoorne took a dominant title victory in GP2 last year, but with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button occupying McLaren's race seats the team opted to place him in a reserve role. In order to keep up his race craft, Vandoorne will combine his McLaren role with a season racing in Super Formula in Japan.

He will be racing against some familiar names, with ex-F1 drivers Kamui Kobayashi, Kazuki Nakajima and Narain Karthikeyan all confirmed for the 2016 season. Le Mans ace and one-time Caterham driver Andre Lotterer will also race this season after finishing third in the championship last year.

Although only a national series, Super Formula features advanced Dallara-built single seaters powered by Honda or Toyota engines. The pole position lap time at the opening round of the series in Suzuka last year was quick enough to beat Will Steven's time for Manor at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.    

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