FR 3.5 – Kevin Magnussen leader of Dams

The pair lined up next season in the World Series by Renault looks good. With the French rookie Norman Nato, announced last Friday, Jean-Paul Driot's team, led in its Ruaudin workshops by François Sicard and Claire Magnant, has just confirmed the commitment of Kevin Magnussen. The son of the former champion F3 British, then pilot of F1 with McLaren then Stewart Racing, and still in full career in Endurance at Corvette Racing, will compete in his second season of FR 3.5.

Following on from his British F3 season at the end of which he finished runner-up behind Felipe Nasr, he showed promise this year at the wheel of one of the Carlin team's two Dallara-Zyteks. To the point of winning a race very quickly, on a wet track at Spa-Francorchamps, the day after the victory of his compatriot Marco Sørensen. Several times on the podium, 7th in the championship and 4th in the Rookies, Magnussen had not completely confirmed during the rest of the season. But in a discipline where the level of teams and drivers is so high, it is likely that Kevin has not benefited from the best set of parameters necessary to be able to win more often.

An impression confirmed from his first day of testing with the Dams team, two days after the Montmelo final, when Magnussen immediately found himself in harmony with the Dams staff to beat the Catalan circuit record. From then on, both the team and the driver did everything to get back together, first during the Motorland Aragon tests, and soon for the next season. Magnussen also stood out by setting the best time in the Abu Dhabi F1 Rookies test with the McLaren MP4/27.

Jean-Paul Driot, CEO:
“Hell you can't lie,” says the adage. Obviously, Kevin confirms this. He is a very talented and fast driver and he showed very good things in WSR this year. It is therefore a pleasure to welcome him to DAMS. Our collaboration has already started under the best auspices and we have common objectives, victories in order to be able to play for the title. I hope and I am even convinced that we can achieve them together. »

Kevin Magnussen:
“I am very happy to join DAMS in 2013. The tests went really well. From the first day, I felt comfortable in the team and there was no doubt in my mind that it was with them that I should work in 2013. This was confirmed by the best times of the two days that we spent together at Motorland. I was very impressed by the team?s working methods. Clearly, these are the ones that must be applied to win. In 2013, I will fight for the title, but I expect very strong competition. That said, we have very strong potential, thanks to the immense know-how of DAMS and the experience that I was able to acquire in 2012. I am already looking forward to the end of winter to attack the new season. »