Home Featured DAMS founder and owner Jean-Paul Driot dies

DAMS founder and owner Jean-Paul Driot dies

by Formula Scout

Jean-Paul Driot, the founder and owner of multiple title-winning junior single-seater and Formula E team DAMS, has died aged 68.

A statement from DAMS said that Driot passed away after several months fighting an illness that has reduced his track-side presence this year.

Driot’s first taste of motorsport came in the late 1960s, and established DAMS (Driot Associ?s Motorsport) at the end of 1988. It made its debut in the 1989 International Formula 3000 season with Erik Comas and Eric Bernard, with Comas only losing the title on wins countback.

The French team, based in La Sarthe, has won?25 international titles under Driot’s management and won races in series such as Int. F3000, GP2, A1GP, Formula 2, GP3 and Formula Renault 3.5.

Over 30 Formula 1 drivers have raced in junior formulae for DAMS, including five on the 2019 grid: Romain Grosjean, Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the team expanded successfully into sportscar racing, and in 2014 partnered with Alain Prost and Renault to join the inaugural season of Formula E.

Renault e.dams won the teams title for three seasons in a row, and topped the 2015-16 driver standings with Sebastien Buemi. Ahead of the 2018-19 season, it ended its association with Renault and partnered with Nissan.

“It is with great sadness that DAMS announces its founder and owner, Jean-Paul Driot, has passed away at the age of 68,” read DAMS’ statement.

“Jean-Paul lost an ongoing battle with illness, which he had fought in recent months. We wish our sincerest condolences to his wife Genevi?ve and two sons Olivier and Gregory.

“Under Jean-Paul?s guidance, DAMS has won 13 drivers? and 12 teams? championships, including 147 races in F3000, FR3.5, GP3, GP2, F2 and FE, since the team was created in 1988. Jean-Paul has also overseen the progression of many talented young drivers on their route to F1.

“The entire DAMS team wishes to dedicate Nicholas Latifi?s win and Sergio Sette Camara?s podium in Hungary to Jean-Paul?s memory.”