ENSTONE-based Lotus F1 have confirmed that Pastor Maldonado will continue to drive for them in 2016.

It will be the Venezuelan’s third year with the team after he joined at the start of 2014.

Maldonado, who has picked up 12 points this season, said: “Obviously, there has been a lot of speculation about the future.

“This season has presented us with some challenges, but the quality of the squad at Enstone is clear to see.

“I’m looking forward to building on the work done this year to deliver better results in 2016.”

Maldonado came 12th in the Singapore Grand Prix won by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, while teammate Romain Grosjean retired on lap 59.

The Lotus drivers will be hoping for better luck in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

Grosjean is rumoured to be exiting Lotus to join Haas.

CHIPPING Norton’s Sean Walkinshaw finished eighth in the Blancpain Endurance Series finale at Germany’s Nurburgring on Sunday.

Starting the three-hour iRacing.com GT 500 event from third on the grid, the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 actually led for the first hour in the hands of Walkinshaw’s 21-year-old teammate Craig Dolby, but hopes of a win were severely impacted by two safety-car interventions.