The Anglo-French DS Automobiles Team Mathershaw team have announced their signing of Kip Maxwell on loan from Downton for 2016 after the Brit resigned with the Amesbury based squad for next season. The deal is the latest in a string of cooperation between DS and Downton, with this deal representing another link in the partnership. Team Principal Arthur Lapierre made the announcement at the Paul Ricard factory rather than the US V-Prix paddock due to the fact that Lapierre will not be present in Indianapolis to concentrate on development of the 2016 car. 'We are delighted to announce that we've agreed with Downton to have Kip on board for 2016. He's been an integral part of the Downton development since day one, and since 2014 he's been a big part of what we're doing here. He will be leading our testing and development programmes, something particularly important with Olen coming in next year, as we need to have the experience of Kip to give us the impetus to push forward. Of course, he's also in the race car at the moment, and from the two races he has done, it's clear he is a capable replacement should one of our regular drivers be unable to compete. As such, Kip will be official Test and Reserve Driver for DS Automobiles Team Mathershaw.' 'Of course, Kip, Adrien and the rest of the team are over in the USA, but we've taken the decision for me and Robert to come back early to push ahead with our plans for 2016. We are in constant contact however with the team in the US, as we're looking to speed up the transfer of knowledge from the track to the factory so we can optimise our design for next year. It's going to be interesting to see how well this works, but we feel we're in a position to try a different way of working.' Back in the US V-Prix paddock, Bradley Downton, Team Principal of Downton FV Team said of the Kip Maxwell deal: 'As a team we are absolutely delighted that Kipper has been able to find a seat for next season, and even more so that he stays within the Downton-DS family. On a personal level I'll be sad to see him go, he's been with us since the start and has been a wonderful and loyal reserve driver, but unfortunately we just don't have room for him in the team line-up next season. Having said that however, it is just a season loan, and he will still be helping us with some behind the scenes work on the engine especially, and as usual, I’m sure he’ll be ready – and DS will be happy – for him to jump into one of our cars should the situation arise.'
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