Round 7, Spa-Francorchamps: Victory for DAMS!
This weekend DAMS competed in the 2 races counting for the Formula BMW Championship, part of the Belgian F1 Grand Prix meeting, on the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the Ardennes. Kevin Breysse and Jim Pla were not intimidated by this very selective layout and scored their best team result so far, while Simon Moss on his first outing with the team gathered useful experience for his career.
After difficult qualifying Kevin started from 13th spot on the grid. The Frenchman reckoned he would be able to fight his way to the front by pushing hard in tricky grip conditions. Unfortunately, he damaged his front wing, lost speed and finished 13th. Jim was 19th on the grid and he too pushed very hard pulling back several places to get into the top 10 finally finishing 9th.
On Sunday Kevin started from 4th on the grid, again on a damp track. He battle hard to get rid of his closed competitors, and at half distance made a decisive move on Adrian Tambay to take the lead. He crossed the line in 1st place a few laps later. Jim came home 4th after a fighting comeback and all-out pedal to the metal driving.
Simon Moss finished in 22nd and 17th places on the Belgian circuit, results that did not do justice to his skills behind the wheel. The South African was on the way to better placings when he was caught out by the tricky conditions.
Kevin is now in 6th place in the driver ratings with 136 points and Jim is 20th DAMS is 6th in the teams’ championship with 169 points. Next round is at Monza in a week’s time.
Eric Boullier, team manager: “Kevin and Jim were both fantastic throughout the weekend, and they showed that it wasn’t luck that made us put our trust in them! Bravo to the whole team, which took the right strategic decisions at the right moment. At Monza, we’re going to go for the double!”
Kevin Breysse; “I’m really happy to have won my first Formula BMW round on one of the toughest circuits in the world. My race today was a strategic one. I knew I had to open up a gap so as not to be under threat of being passed under slipstreaming on the straight. I did so and I pushed right up to the finish. I’d like to congratulate the whole team, the mechanics and engineers, thanks to whom today’s result was possible.”
Jim Pla: “I changed my approach quite a bit this weekend and decided to drive much more aggressively. It paid off and my aim is to do at least as well at Monza next weekend.”
Simon Moss: “It’s been a great experience on a circuit I didn’t know very well in difficult weather conditions. I did my best and I think I’ve learned a lot this weekend. I hope to show it as soon as possible.”
