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Williams stalwart Dickie Stanford has left his role as race team manager of the Formula 1 outfit ahead of the 2014 season.

The Briton is one of Williams's longest-serving members, having originally joined the Grove-based outfit as race mechanic to Nigel Mansell in 1985.

He moved up through the ranks and first took on the race team manager role in 1995 - staying in that position for 10 years before taking a factory-based job so he could spend more time with his family.

After returning to a travelling position as test team manager, Stanford took over the race team manager position full-time again in 2010.

Deputy team principal Claire Williams said Stanford would be moving to a different role within Williams.

"Dickie has unfortunately decided to step down at the start of this season," she said.

"He got us through testing, he did a great job, but wants a different role within the team.

"So we are now talking to him behind the scenes to decide exactly what he wants to do and what we want to do. We are working on that.

"Once we have got an idea of what that will be, we will let everyone know."

Former McLaren technical co-ordinator Peter Vale has been appointed by Williams as its new race team manager.