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DAMS signs up Nasr for 2012

Felipe Nasr finished second in the 2011 Macau Grand Prix © Getty Images

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Felipe Nasr has joined DAMS for the 2012 GP2 season, partnering Davide Valsecchi at the team.

Nasr's first season in Europe saw him win the 2009 Formula BMW title as he finished on the podium in 14 of the 16 races, winning seven times. The following year Nasr progressed to British F3 and won in his first season before taking the 2011 championship with seven wins and 17 podiums in 30 races. Following a third place in the Daytona 24 Hours in January, Nasr has been confirmed as stepping up to GP2 with DAMS and said he was ready for the next stage in his development.

"I am very happy that we managed to get all the details worked out and that I will be able to be in GP2 this year," Nasr said. "After Italy in 2009, the UK in 2010 and 2011 it is time for me to move again and head to France, thanks to the combined efforts of my family, my manager Steve Robertson, my Brazilian sponsors and of DAMS, I have a new home where to work, improve my driving and prove my worth.

"I have so much to learn and I am sure that with DAMS in GP2 and with a strong team mate, I am in the right place to learn the trades of the series and of the new tracks that I will face. Have to say that some of them I already know from the Formula BMW time, but it will be a tough challenge getting out of the British cocoon I comfortably was for the last two years. I have no word to describe how happy I am to be able to continue to wear the colours of Brazil with two strong Brazilian sponsors that believe in me and will be supporting my career in the long run."

DAMS CEO Jean-Paul Driot said that he felt Nasr's addition meant that the team has an ideal driver partnership.

"I'm really delighted to welcome Felipe to the DAMS team," he said. "We've known him and followed his progress since his Formula BMW days, and we immediately spotted his incredible potential. We'll do what's necessary to allow him to express his talent and develop it throughout the whole GP2 Series Championship. With Davide's experience and Felipe's fieriness and youth we've got the best possible driver combination."

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