Round 5, Budapest:

DAMS raced in the 2 rounds of the Formula BMW Europe Championship this weekend in the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix meeting.

Kevin Breysse and Jim Pla showed their potential as the former scored his first rostrum finish of the season. Kevin started from 8th on the grid and finished the 1st race in 3rd place. Jim started from 20th spot and came home 18th after a collision at the beginning of the event resulting in damage to his car.

Sunday morning, Kevin and Jim were in 9th and 13th places on the grid. After a more difficult race Kevin saw the flag in the same position, while his team-mate was hit again and finished in 23rd spot.

Kevin is now in 9th place in the drivers’ classification with 81 points and Jim is 25th. DAMS is still 8th in the teams’ ratings with 87 points. The next round is in Valencia between 22nd and 24th August.

Eric Boullier, team manager: “Once again DAMS showed its real potential in the races and we’re satisfied with our drivers’ performances. Kevin laid down a marker by scoring his first rostrum finish - and it won’t be his last! Jim has the speed to fight at the front but he needs to start from further up the grid to make the most of it.”

Kevin Breysse: “I’m very happy to have been on the rostrum for the first time this year. For the past several races I’ve had the speed to fight with the front-runners but I haven’t been able to show it. Now I know that I can take the fight to the leaders in the second half of the championship.”

Jim Pla: “Two races, two collisions: that’s the price you have to pay when you start in the middle of the pack. My aim will be to qualify higher up in the next round and have a couple of more productive races.”