The 21-year-old’s battle with, and remarkable fight back from, a particularly aggressive form of testicular cancer has been well documented in the national and motorsport media. Receiving the life-changing diagnosis in January 2011, when on the cusp of breaking into Formula One, Stoneman underwent tremendous levels of chemotherapy to try and beat the disease and secondary tumours.
Dean Stoneman won the F2 Championship in 2010
Thankfully, the treatment has so far been a success and the Southampton sportsman has now made the decision to return to competitive action in powerboat racing with a view to resuming his car racing career in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2013.
He is also making history as the first ever professional racing driver to sign for P1 SuperStock UK and the story contains another twist – his father, Colin, was a hugely successful powerboat racer in the 1990s, winning the 4-litre Powerboat World Championship in 1995.
“We thought it would be great to try our hand in P1”, said Dean. “I’m hoping to be back in World Series [Formula Renault 3.5] next season but this year is about getting fit and, after a tough year in 2011, just enjoying myself will help my recovery.
I’m really looking forward to having some fun in these great powerboats.
I’m really looking forward to having some fun in these great powerboats.
“Every two months I have to go back for blood tests, I have to be monitored for the next 10 years to make sure everything is ok, so we’re taking things steady with the training and just going one step at a time. I’m looking forward to getting out there for the first race, it should be good.”
Stoneman’s P1 SuperStock debut will be in Plymouth this coming weekend, 19/20 May, driving one of the P1 Panther 28SS boats in the championship’s headline P1 250 Class. Partnered by navigator and close friend Dean Palling, who will also be making his competitive on-water debut in Plymouth, the duo will compete with the backing of international removals firm Pickfords.
Through his racing in the P1 SuperStock Championship, the talented and massively inspirational youngster also plans to raise as much awareness as possible for the Wessex Cancer Trust for which he is the Youth Ambassador.
Prior to being diagnosed with cancer and embarking on a course of almost non-stop chemotherapy to try and eradicate the disease and secondary tumours in his abdomen and lungs, Stoneman had earned his place as one of the UK’s most promising FIA Formula One World Championship aspirants.
After winning the coveted F2 title with a race to spare in September 2010, and with it scooping a prize Formula One test drive with the Williams F1 Team and an FIA Super Licence, the Southampton racer was very much on the cusp of breaking into the top tier of global motorsport.
Impressing the legendary F1 squad with his pace, ability and professionalism during the ‘Young Driver’ test at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi just two months after winning the F2 title, Stoneman posted the fifth quickest time and marked himself out with a potentially career-changing performance.
Although having been back on track since his life-changing diagnosis and treatment with a test outing in a Formula 2 car, the opening round of the 2012 P1 SuperStock Championship this weekend will mark the true return to competition for one of the UK’s most inspirational young sportsmen.
