• GP2 news

DAMS announces Ericsson and Richelmi

Marcus Ericsson joins from iSport having won the Belgian feature race in 2012 © Sutton Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Drivers:
• Marcus Ericsson
• |
• Stephane Richelmi

• Teams:
• DAMS

DAMS has announced that its 2013 GP2 driver line-up will consist of Marcus Ericsson and Stephane Richelmi.

The team is going for its third consecutive drivers' championship having won with Romain Grosjean in 2011 and Davide Valsecchi in 2012. DAMS also won the team's championship last season and with GP2 champions not allowed to defend their crown it has moved to replace Valsecchi with a race winner as Ericsson took one victory and five podium finishes last year.

Ericsson completed a successful test with the team at Jerez last month and said he was pleased to be taking over a title-winning car.

"I'm extremely proud to get the opportunity to drive for the DAMS team," Ericsson said. "Their results over the last couple of years say it all. After testing successfully together in the Jerez post-season tests, there were no doubts as to where I wanted to be in 2013. The preparations for next year have already started and I feel ready to fight at the front of the championship together with DAMS."

Richelmi said that the team's professionalism had been a big factor in his decision to sign.

"Of course, I'm very happy and very proud to be a part of the DAMS family!" Richelmi said. "After a fairly difficult 2012 season I was determined to have a good winter test session to join a top team and improve in 2013. Thus, I drove for Lotus GP for one day, then with Trident, and finally with DAMS. I soon chose the reigning teams' title holder.

"The way the engineers work really impressed me; the team's level of professionalism is faultless and the very pleasant ambience makes you feel at home straight away. I hope to fight at the front next year while helping DAMS to clinch another teams' title."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.