Photo: Dutch Photo Agency/Red Bull Content Pool
The DAMS team that races in Formula E and Formula 2 has moved under the ownership of former Formula 1 driver Charles Pic for 2022.
Pic, 32, who claimed a best finish of 12th in his F1 career and was a points scorer in FE, buys the team from Olivier and Gregory Driot who have been in ownership of DAMS since their team-founding father Jean-Paul Driot died in 2019.
Driot set up DAMS in Le Mans in 1988 along with Rene Arnoux, another French ex-F1 driver, and entered the team straight into International Formula 3000 which at that point was F1’s primary feeder series. It raced in successor series GP2 and F2.
“I would like to thank Oliver and Gregory for this great opportunity to continue the DAMS story,” said Pic, who also has his own CAP Racing team that had ambitions to race in Formula Regional European Championship this year.
“Our families have been very close for a long time, as Jean-Paul knew my grandfather, who has supported DAMS drivers in the past like my godfather Eric Bernard and Olivier Panis, and he also helped me a lot during my career. This is a huge honour for me to continue Jean-Paul’s legacy in French motorsport.
“I am still very passionate about motorsport, and this is a long-term project. I look forward to working with [managing director] Francois Sicard and [chief engineer] Remi Decorzent, who will continue to manage the team on a daily basis and I have full trust in them. I hugely believe DAMS can be successful both on and off-track and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve with Francois, Remi and the rest of the DAMS team members.”
While Pic himself never raced for DAMS during his career, his younger brother Arthur did in Formula Renault 3.5 in 2012. Since they stopped racing the brothers have taken up roles with Group Charles Andre, the family logistics firm.
Olivier and Gregory Driot put out a joint statement, saying: “Although it is with a heavy heart that we are handing over the team, this is the best way to ensure the DAMS legacy remains and expands. After our father passed, we have always aimed to continue driving the team forwards. However, we know DAMS can excel even further under Charles, and especially with the passionate and loyal people who have been working with us for many years.
“We want the best for DAMS and Charles has a deep knowledge of motorsport. Under his watch, the team’s legacy will continue and flourish. We feel our father would have been proud of this next step. When Charles approached us, we thought this was a great opportunity, not only for the staff but also the legacy of the Driot family. It is a great honour for us to hand over DAMS to another great French motorsport name.”