By alley - Feb 24, 2016, 10:31 AM ET

INDY LIGHTS: Stoneman confirms switch with Andretti

Andretti Autosport has announced that that British racing standout Dean Stoneman will join its team to drive the team's No. 27 Stellrecht car in this year's Indy Lights Championship. He will join teammates Shelby Blackstock and Dalton Kellett.

"Dean is a true raw talent and has an incredible, inspirational story," Andretti Autosport CEO Michael Andretti said. "I can't think of a better fit for our Indy Lights team and the Mazda Road to Indy Program for the 2016 season. We look forward to working with Dean and helping to grow his career in U.S. open-wheel racing."

Stoneman is a race winner in nearly every category he has competed in, including capturing the F2 Championship in 2010. On course to obtain a coveted Formula 1 career, Stoneman's drive was put on hold when diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer at the age of 20, sending him on a 12-month battle to recovery.

While starting on the road to recuperation, the Southampton resident took a two-day test session with Andretti's Indy Lights effort in 2012 before returning to the seat full time 2013 in the highly competitive Porsche Carerra Cup GB championship. Stoneman's long anticipated return to racing continued into 2014 as the GP3 Series runner-up and on to 2015 with competition in Renault 3.5. However,

as he told RACER in December 2014

, "Everyone's dream is to get to Formula 1, but the funnel to get there is smaller than is reasonable. I've been to America and seen IndyCar, seen Indy Lights, and really like what it has to offer. Both are great championships, and I reckon America is the best option for me."

"I'm delighted to be racing in the U.S. this year," said Stoneman. "We have been looking at racing here for a while now and to have finally secured a seat with Andretti in Indy Lights is a fantastic move for me. This season will form the first step towards racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series. One of the motivating factors of coming here is the The Mazda Road to Indy program. Rewarding success and assisting progression to the next level of the sport is great and can make a huge difference to a driver's long-term career in racing."

Stoneman added, "I'm now just looking forward to joining the team this week for my first test in Phoenix. I can't wait to sample ovals for the first time and rise to the challenges ahead. I know Andretti's commitment to success matches my desire to win and be a competitive force in the series."

The 2016 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship begins March 12 with the opening round of competition on the streets of St. Petersburg.