Interview
A huge amount of development: DAMS Lucas Oil Pre-Season Review
As they begin their second campaign in FIA Formula 3, DAMS Lucas Oil feel they have taken a step forward after a very solid pre-season test in Barcelona.
The French team completed 601 laps across the three days – the fifth most of any team – and caught the eye, especially when times were at their fastest on the morning of Day 2.
Gerrard Xie was at the top of the timesheets for much of that session during the Qualifying simulations, before ending up in P10 with a 1:27.792, while Nicola Lacorte was just a few thousandths away in P13.
On Day 3, Lacorte was half a second away from Théophile Nael in P10 in the morning, with the Italian then topping the timesheets in the afternoon with a 1:29.676.
Xie was behind him in P2, while Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi completed 51 laps in that segment, clocking up the mileage – the Thai driver completing 213 laps across the test.
During the test, Xie said: "It was quite nice. It seems like we have good pace. I think we nailed the setup, got it quite right and it's good effort from the team."
Speaking after the test, DAMS’ Technical Director David Hache gave his view on how the team had done.
“We have made some progress,” said Hache. “We've learned a lot of things since last year. We're quite happy with what our drivers delivered and what the team delivered.
“We spent a lot of time on all aspects of the car. On the mechanical side, on the engineering side, and also helping on the driver's side.”
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DAMS’ next task will come at Round 1 in Melbourne, the venue of their first race weekend in Formula 3 in 2025, where they performed quite well.
Matías Zagazeta led the team’s charge last year at Albert Park, qualifying in 11th on their debut, setting himself up to finish fifth in the Sprint.
It gave DAMS their first points in Formula 3, and their best result in the Championship until the Peruvian finished fourth in the same race in Monza.
For Hache though, he feels his team are in a better position this year compared to last, and that they can improve on their showing in Australia next month.
“Last year we had a good start there, we qualified and I think it was a good result,” he said. “In Melbourne we had a bit of luck, but we also managed to exploit it last year.
“Matías did a good qualifying performance. We hope to reiterate and do better. For sure we have more knowledge now, so we're hopefully confident.”