P1 Motorsport, the Besthorpe-based Formula Renault 3.5 World Series team, has recently announced its first driver, Will Stevens, for the 2013 season.

For British racer Stevens it will be his second season in the Formula One feeder category after finishing in 12th place in his first year in the formula with Carlin Motorsport.

The 21-year-old Surrey driver recently drove for the Norfolk squad and said: 'I am very happy to be joining P1 Motorsport for the 2013 season having tested with them on a number of occasions and have always been near the top of the timesheets so I take a lot of confidence from that.'

Stevens' confidence is based on impressive testing performances at both Barcelona, when he was half a second clear of the field in both sessions, and at the following Motorland test when he again challenged for top honours.

Stevens is a member of the British Racing Drivers Club Superstars Programme and after recording nine top ten finishes, which included a podium place at the Hungaroring, has a lot of confidence for the coming season.

'The car suits me, I feel really at home in the team and we are aligned in our objectives for next season,' he added. '2012 was a good learning year for me and I am ready to challenge for the championship in 2013.'

Mike Henderson, P1's chief engineer, has been impressed with his new recruit. 'Will's performance with the team during the post-season test at Barcelona was incredibly positive and we are very much looking forward to working with him over the winter in preparation for next year,' he said.

'The experience he has already gained in the FR 3.5 category will put him in good stead for the coming season, in which we fully expect him to be a championship contender.'

The Besthorpe team is hoping to announce Stevens' team-mate shortly after confirming it was in the final stage of negotiations with a second driver.

For the first time in its illustrious history Formula Ford will become a slicks and wings formula and will be joining the British Touring Car Championship support package in 2013 in place of the defunct Formula Renault UK Championship.

Norfolk manufacturer Sinter will be developing their new car for the 'new formula' by fitting an aero package to their car, which was designed with the aid of the Caterham Formula One team, which has yet to make its racing debut.

The plan is for the new machine to be unveiled at the forthcoming Autosport International Show in early January, with track testing pencilled in for the end of the month or early February.