Foresti partners Pic as DAMS complete 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 line-up

The Brazilian has spent the past two seasons competing in British F3. He finished seventh in last year's championship, having taken three wins and seven podiums during the season.

He has also won the F3 Brazilian Open for the past two years, and has a GP3 podium to his name, which came in the second race at Barcelona in 2010.

"I'd like to thank DAMS and Mr. Driot [DAMS CEO] for giving me this chance to be part of a great team," Foresti said.

"I'm very proud of it and I've also got great confidence in the fact that our collaboration will prove to be a fruitful one.

"I hope we'll have the opportunity to show our speed and our professionalism. I'm convinced that I'll learn a lot, make significant progress and that we'll scale the heights together!"

DAMS CEO Jean-Paul Driot said he hopes Foresti will be able to grow and develop as part of the DAMS family.

"Our team has trained a large number of promising drivers for over twenty years and twenty-four have graduated to Formula 1," he said.

"Our aim with Lucas, who we are delighted to have with us, is no different, and we hope that his performance will be in keeping with the level of our joint ambitions."

2012 represents DAMS's return to Formula Renault 3.5, the team having clinched the last year's GP2 championship with Romain Grosjean.