2MB signs 14-year old Stevens

Will Stevens, the youngest ever winner of the British Junior Kart championship, has signed to the management team while he is still in karting with the aim of helping him through to Formula One.

The deal was announced on the main stage of the Autosport International show this morning.

Stevens joins former BMW UK champion Tim Bridgman, who is going to drive in the Champ Car Atlantic series with Jensen Motorsport, and British F3 racer Mike Conway on the 2MB books.

"Hopefully next year I can be Italian open champion and I'm working with the best guys I can think of," Stevens said. "There's a lot of factors you have to put together to be a driver but you have to get it all correct and that's what this will help with."

Brundle stressed the importance of being guided correctly in the early stages of a driver' career.

"People helped me as I came through I was appreciate," Brundle said. " I made a lot of mistake in my racing career, hopefully we can stop them making their mistakes. I'm so excited about the year ahead. Are they in the right places to drive.

"We need British drivers at the highest level. We are building a strong business to help some young drivers through."

Stevens will continue to be run under the JRP karting awning this year and will focus on the JICA Italian Open Championship as well as competing in the JICA European Championship.

Stevens, who is based in Surrey, will also contest four rounds of the new World Karting Series in Italy and Belgium. He will also participate in the CIA North American Championship held late in the year.