Lucas Foresti signs contract with DAMS team

About 90 days to the beginning of the 2012 season of the World Series By Renault-WSR, one of the most important formula championships in the world, pilots and teams move a lot behind the scenes. In a year in which the category will debut the new car and, also, with the arrival of new teams and competitors, the expectation is too large.

With the experience of two seasons in the F-3 British Championship, as well as having competed in the Ultimate Masters of Zandvoort, Macau GP and F-3 Brazil Open the Brazilian pilot Lucas Foresti (RADIEX | BREDA | PIRACICABANA CARGAS) is ready to face this important step in his career.

After having participated in testing at the end of 2011 with multiple teams of WSR, this morning, in Brasilia, the 19 years old pilot announced the signing of the contract to compete this season by the French DAMS team.

Founded in 1988, the Driot-Arnoux Motorsport (DAMS) was created by businessman Jean-Paul Driot and the former F-1 pilot René Arnoux. With its headquarters in France, in the vicinity of Le-Mans, the team is one of the world's most traditional ones in training pilots for the F-1. Having acted in the F-3000 and GP2 Series since their inception, DAMS already led 24 competitors to the top category of world Motorsport, in addition to having won numerous titles.

In 2011 the team won the GP2 title with Romain Grosjean, one of the current promises of F-1. Besides him, who will be in the Lotus team, the Japanese Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) and the Belgian Jérôme D'ambrosio (Lotus-test) also passed through DAMS and currently compete in the F-1 World Championships.

World Series by Renault – A challenge to the pilot and the team

Just like Lucas, the DAMS team will be debuting in 2012 its participation in the WSR Championship, also known as F-Renault 3.5. Taking advantage of the time of the debut of the new car, new engine and exchange the team arrives with its victorious structure with the intention to fight for victories right in the first races.

The World Series car is one of the most advanced racing cars today. The new model will be equipped with a 3.5-litre V8 engine, of, 550 HP of power and will uses Michelin French tires. The semi-automatic 6-speed gearbox will be similar to the one used in the F-1, as well as the mechanism for opening the rear spoiler, also known as DRS-Drag Reduction System. Another innovation of the season will be the new telemetry system, even faster and more precise. Other than that, compared to the previous model, the new car is 15 kg lighter and, by wind tunnel testing, its downforce will be 34% higher.

"I'm very happy to be part of a team so victorious and traditional as the DAMS. I would like to thank Mr. Driot for giving me the chance to be part of his team. I'm proud to be part of this new challenge of DAMS, in the World Series. I'm ready for this challenge! I hope to learn a lot and have the opportunity to show my speed and professionalism. We will have a season of great challenges, but, with the union and much work we will take together the steps in the search for victories. In order to achieve my goal of becoming a F-1 pilot the financial contribution by solid corporations becomes essential at the moment. I want to thank RADIEX which for another season will be by my side, as well as, to BREDA and PIRACICABANA CARGAS, which together form the group of sponsors that will with me in this journey", commented the 19 years old pilot.

Jean-Paul Driot, the team’s CEO, commented the arrival of Lucas: "Welcoming promising young pilots as Lucas Foresti is always a pleasure. In more than 20 years of existence, our team has prepared several talents of which 24 graduated in the Formula 1. Our goal with Lucas, whom we are very pleased to have with us, is no different. We hope that his performance will keep the level of our joint ambitions. "