The DAMS stable sold to Charles Pic

This is an extremely important moment in the great history of the French DAMS team. Founded in 1988 by Rene Arnoux and Jean-Paul Driot, the Le Mans-based structure will change ownership. As a reminder, since the death of Jean-Paul Driot in 2019, the stable has been in the hands of his sons, Olivier and Grégory. The latter decided to sell the team and the new owner is Charles Pic, the former driver of Formula 1 with 39 starts in the premier category (2012-2013), and who happens to be a friend of the Driot family. 

“The complicity between DAMS and the Pic family dates back more than 30 years, it is reported in the DAMS press release.  Charles-Pierre André, Charles' grandfather, notably supported Éric Bernard, his godfather, and Olivier Panis when they were at DAMS. Arthur Pic, his younger brother, also drove for the Le Mans team in 2012 in the Formula championship. Renault 3.5. " The drivers and staff of DAMS will remain in place for the 2022 season, and will therefore still be headed by the experienced General Manager François Sicard, who will still rely on his head of engineering Rémi Decorzent. Likewise, the team remains based in Le Mans, in its current premises. Furthermore, Charles Pic communicated his wish not to change the name of the team in order to preserve the legacy of Jean-Paul Driot. No information has yet been given concerning the fate reserved for the stable of Formula E e-dams.

Brothers Olivier and Grégory Driot have decided to sell DAMS to Charles Pic. © DAMS

“Even if we are sad to hand over the reins, this decision is the best solution to ensure the future of the team and develop it, declared the Driot brothers in a press release. Since the death of our father we have always done our best to ensure that DAMS continues to perform well. The structure will nevertheless be able to be even more competitive with Charles and he will benefit from the commitment and loyalty of all the staff, most of whom have worked for the team for many years. We wish the best for DAMS, whose history will continue to be written under the leadership of Charles. We are confident that his intimate knowledge of the industry will allow the team to thrive. Our father would have been proud of this new chapter. When Charles contacted us, we quickly realized that this transmission of witness represented a great opportunity, not only for all the staff, but also for the history of the Driot family. It is an honor for us to hand over DAMS to another big name in French motorsport. »

15 Drivers’ titles, 16 Teams

For his part, the new owner Charles Pic was delighted to be at the head of such a historic team. “I am very happy to be able to write a new page in the DAMS adventure, he mentioned. Our two families have appreciated each other for a very long time. Jean-Paul knew my grandfather, who supported several DAMS pilots in the past, including my godfather Éric Bernard and Olivier Panis. My passion for car racing has not changed and this acquisition is a long-term project. I am confident that DAMS can be successful both on and off the track. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish with François, Rémi and all the members of the team. »

Despite two complicated last seasons, DAMS managed to win thanks to Marcus Armstrong. © DAMS

Titled three times in F3000 with Erik Comas (1990), Olivier Panis (1993) and Jean-Christophe Bouillion (1994), DAMS really made its mark in the GP2 Series, winning three driver titles with Romain Grosjean (2011), Davide Valsecchi (2012) and Jolyon Palmer (2014) but also two crowned teams. In Formula 2, DAMS was also team title in 2019 thanks to the duo Nicholas latifi –Sergio Sette Camara. Since the introduction of the new 18-inch tires, the structure led by François Sicard has experienced difficult times on a sporting level, with an 8th place in 2020 and 2021. 

DAMS remains in any case a real reference in promotional formulas in car, with no less than 15 Drivers' titles, 16 Teams' championships and 168 victories since 1988. As a reminder, the team is entered in Formula 2 this year and will rely on a duo of drivers composed of the Israeli Roy Nissany and the rookie Japanese Ayumu Iwasa, protégé of Honda and Red Bull. The start of the season will take place in Bahrain on March 20, at the same time as the start of Formula 1. 

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