Prestigious Formula 2 racing team DAMS have a new owner, with Olivier and Gregory Driot handing over the reins of the French organisation to close family friend Charles Pic. Pic is a former Formula 1 driver, racing with Marussia and Caterham in 2012 and 2013 respectively, before a short stint in Formula E. He retired from professional racing in 2015, moving into logistics management. With DAMS' legendary founder Jean-Paul Driot passing away in 2019, Pic approached the Driot brothers, Jean-Paul's sons, with an offer to take over DAMS – an offer that they accepted. The driver line-up and team personnel will remain unchanged for 2022, with Managing Director Francois Sicard and Chief Engineer Remi Decorzent staying at the operational helm. The squad will still operate from their current base in Le Mans in France. "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," read a statement from the Driot brothers. "After our father passed, we have always aimed to continue driving the team forwards. However, we know DAMS can excel even further under Charles, 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 it will 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."
A hugely successful era for DAMS in motorsport
DAMS have been a racing team since the late 1980s, becoming one of motorsport's most successful junior single-seater squads. They have won 15 drivers' titles, 16 team championships, and a total of 168 victories so far across multiple categories. Assuming control of such an illustrious name in motorsport, Pic says he aims to continue the French team's tremendous success. "I would like to thank Oliver and Gregory for this great opportunity to continue the DAMS story," he commented. "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 Francois Sicard and 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."
Most read
