Bradley Downton - team owner and manager of Downton F1 - has announced that current Championship leader - Nathaniel Powers - will join his team in a shock move as of next season. Downton - who are currently struggling in the Championship - also unveiled their new logo for next season (shown left). It has been rumored recently that Powers had been unsettled within the Franklin F1 camp after talks between him and team owner - Jamie Franklin - broke down. Scuderia Rossi initially made a bid for the Championship leader but Downton bettered this and Franklin accepted. The move to a team struggling at the back of the grid is a huge shock however.
Downton were expected to run their two young drivers - Kip Maxwell and Marcus Thunder - again next season after Scott Parsons suffered a horrific accident while rallying earlier this season. However the signing of Powers surely means one of them will have to work as a test driver for the season. In a statement the team said: 'We are delighted to be welcoming Nathan to the team for next season. He is a world-class driver - as he is showing this season at the moment by leading the Championship by such a huge margin - and we hope he can continue this form next season and help us develop the car and become Champions. Powers also commented: 'To be joining Downton is a fantastic opportunity. Franklin has treated me fantastically this season and I would like to thank them hugely for the opportunity they gave me - it is time to move on however. Downton have a brilliant package for next season and the whole idea they are aiming for is a brilliant idea. Their ambition is to become a fully fledged manufacturer in their own right - producing their own cars and their own engines. I am delighted to a part of this.' When questioned on the driver line-up for next season Downton commented: 'We are currently unsure who will partner Nathaniel next season but it will be between Marcus and Kip. It could come down simply to whoever performs better in the Championship this season.'
6 Comments
andae23
31/10/2013 01:13:32 am
Great to see Powers get a seat - would have taken him myself if Mattson wouldn't have been so freakin expensive :P
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sozavele
31/10/2013 01:32:58 am
Powers is beating Mattson
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andae23
31/10/2013 11:09:18 am
You just wait for the second half of the season ;)
Robert
31/10/2013 01:40:54 am
I like the logo ;)
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Antonio Rossi
31/10/2013 02:41:18 am
Brilliant signing for Downton, do you think you can provide him with the car though?
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Nic
31/10/2013 04:26:34 am
It reminds me of Hill moving to Arrows in 1997. It's a gamble for Powers but lets just see.
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