Alex Lynn will be bidding to follow in the tyre tracks of 27 previous DAMS Racing Team drivers who have made the leap into Formula One after signing for the French outfit to compete in the 2015 GP2 Series Championship.

The 21-year-old from Dunmow will graduate as GP3 Series champion to the next tier of motorsport on his way to his planned target of the pinnacle of single-seater racing.

Last year’s GP2 champion, Jolyon Palmer, claimed the title in the colours of DAMS Racing and will be racing in Formula One this year with the Sahara Force India team and Lynn is looking to emulate his fellow countryman’s achievement.

Lynn completed dominated the GP3 Series in his rookie season last year and was frustrated to miss out on an F1 berth for 2015 despite being in the running for a place with the Toro Rosso squad as a member of the Red Bull Junior Programme.

So he is excited about the possibility of impressing in GP2 despite no rookie having taken the championship’s title since Nico Hulkenberg in 2009.

Lynn said: “I am delighted to be racing with DAMS in 2015.

“Their record in the last few years speaks for itself and there’s nowhere else I wanted to be in GP2 - it’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I’d like to thank them for giving me this break.

“My aim is to fight for the Championship.

“It’s a long time since anybody won GP2 in their first year, but if we can get off to a solid start there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be able to fight for wins and podiums straight away.”

Joining Lynn in the DAMS GP2 team this year will be another of the 2014 Red Bull Junior Programme drivers, Pierre Gasly.

The Essex driver added: “I also know Pierre very well, we’re good friends and it’s not often that team-mates see eye to eye so I’m looking forward to having a good year with him.

“It will also make things a lot smoother and more productive for the team with us working together in a positive way.

“Bring on Bahrain!”

Apart from Palmer’s win last year, DAMS have a rich history of success in the GP2 Series having also provided the 2011 and 2012 champions, Romain Grosjean and Davide Valsecchi respectively.

Team principle Jean-Paul Driot added: “After the brilliant season we had in 2014 it’ll be difficult to do better.

“Obviously our aim is to keep our titles and I’m delighted to welcome Pierre Gasly and Alex Lynn to the team.

“It’s the youngest driver line-up we’ve ever had in GP2, but we’ve got two exceptionally talented guys who have a great future ahead of them. “Although the overall level in the championship will again be very high, I’m confident that with these drivers DAMS will prove worthy of its rank.”