16/04/11

TAMBAY, AFANASIEV AND HARYANTO ON THE AUTO GP GRID WITH DAMS

Adrien Tambay, Sergei Afanasiev and Rio Haryanto have been officially announced as the drivers chosen by DAMS for the 2011 Auto GP season. The French team, that made a clean sweep in the maiden Auto GP season winning both the drivers' and teams' title, confirmed the whole line-up that was on track for the Official Test in Barcelona: it's a very young line-up as both Tambay and Haryanto, respectively 20 and 18 years-old, will be eligible for the Under 21 Trophy, whilst the "older" Afanasiev just turned 23. Despite their young age, the trio already managed to impress throughout their careers in motorsport. Tambay clinched race wins and podium finishes in F.BMW and GP3, and last year in his rookie season on a powerful car as Auto GP he took one race win and one podium finish, boasting both great performances and a good race management.

Afanasiev comes from a very good season in F2, finishing 3rd in the standings, and was 2nd in the 2009 edition of the International Formula Master, with an impressive tally of wins and podiums. Haryanto, the youngest in the line-up, is already considered the most talented young driver in Asia: the Indonesian started winning from the very first races on single seaters in 2009, then clinching the F.BMW Asia title in 2009. In 2010 he committed to the GP3 series, taking a race win in Istanbul. So, with such drivers, DAMS seems to have what it takes to keep his role as one of the Series performance benchmarks, challenging again for both titles.

Adrien Tambay:
"I'm really happy to be joining DAMS in Auto GP this year. It's one of the great teams that has won in all the championships in which it has raced, and that includes Auto GP. I hope to be able to build on the basis of my experience last year so that we have a really good season together. The test in Barcelona went off pretty well, and with hard work and all-out involvement we can achieve our objectives".

Sergei Afanasiev:
"Joining the DAMS team is a privilege. It dominated the championship last year and it'll provide us with an excellent car. I know that I can progress thanks to the team and the series, which is an important step towards my objective - to join my fellow-countryman in Formula 1. We can do it together!".

Rio Haryanto:
"It's a great joy for me to join the DAMS team in Auto GP this year. It's the squad that won the series in 2010, and I'm convinced that we'll have a competitive car from the green light. Auto GP will also help me to understand a more powerful racer and progress in my career".