DAMS shows encouraging potential for 2013

The last World Series by Renault meeting of the season didn’t really satisfy the French team whose only reward was Arthur Pic’s sixth place on Sunday. However, the overall performance of the car/drivers/engineering team’s performance in its first year in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series has reassured the team, and it can look forward to 2013 with greater ambitions.  Arthur Pic could do no better than eleventh in the first qualifying session, which was broken up by a succession of red and yellow flags. Handicapped by the starting order on the track he was slowed on his fastest lap when a place in the top 5 looked well within his grasp. Much the same applies to Lucas Foresti who finished twentieth.

Arthur and DAMS had a frustrating first race. Pic lost a place at the start and then battled tooth and nail to fight his way back, but had problems overtaking even if his car was quick. Although he finished where he started, he felt he could have done better. Foresti drove a combative race in the middle of the field setting a good pace. Unfortunately, a small collision at the end led to his retirement.

DAMS showed its real potential on a very wet track in the second qualifying session rewarded by Pic’s second-quickest time. Sadly, he fluffed his start and lost places. The Frenchman, who was stuck behind Frijns, made a slight error and spun just before his pit stop. He rejoined outside the top ten and fought his way back up through the field to sixth place at the chequered flag. Foresti broke his transmission in a collision but his lap times in the race, which were not far off those of Pic, confirmed his improvement.

DAMS will stay at the Catalonian circuit this week to test in view of the coming season. It will assess new drivers Kevin Magnussen from Denmark and Russian Sergey Sirotkin on Tuesday 23rd October, and Brit Will Stevens and Mathias Laine from Finland the following day.

Jean-Paul Driot, CEO: “The season ended on a rather low-key note in terms of results, but with a lot of hope and ambition for next year. First of all, I’d like to congratulate and thank the whole team. It deserved a whole lot better on its first season in FR 3.5. The car was quick and Arthur confirmed this at least once with a victory. We now have to take advantage of this year’s experience to go into the 2013 season as title contenders.”

Arthur Pic: “First of all a big thanks to all my team. They gave me a quick car throughout the whole season and helped to score my first win in FR 3.5. We just lacked a little luck like this weekend. Today, I was as quick as Frijns but I didn’t manage to take advantage of it. Despite this, I feel confident and optimistic for next year.”

Lucas Foresti: “The season finished on a disappointing note for me with two retirements, but above all that didn’t reward all the team’s hard work, which has backed me during what has been a difficult year of apprenticeship. Thank you DAMS for having helped me to improve and to gather experience. I hope to continue in the same vein in 2013.”

Next tests: Barcelona 23-24 October and then again on 8-9 November rounded off by Motorland Aragon on 21-23 November.