di Resta: I’ve waited a long time for this chance

He may still be only 23, but Paul di Resta seems to have been on the fringes of F1 for years and he admits that he has waited a very long time to be given the kind of opportunity that Force India has presented him with during this weeks special young driver test at Jerez. After triumphing in the hotly-fought F3 Euroseries in 2006 just a year after 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton had done likewise, and beating no fewer than five of this years grand prix grid along the way, in the shape of Sebastian Vettel, Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi, Sbastien Buemi and Romain Grosjean di Restas single-seater ambitions stalled due to a lack of funding, the traditional bugbear of many a promising young British racing driver. Long-time supporter Mercedes-Benz kept faith and placed him in the DTM pan-European touring car series, where he has since gone on to establish himself as not only a regular race-winner but also a genuine title contender but he has made little secret of the fact that his heart remains set on an F1 future. Whilst Force India has elected to retain Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2010, the Silverstone-based squad is giving both di Resta and reigning Indy Lights Champion J.R. Hildebrand a chance to prove their worth in southern Spain this week, and the former immediately shone by setting the second-quickest time on the first day, in a car not regarded as being consistently one of the quickest [see separate story click here]. Should either of them impress the team sufficiently, Vijay Mallya has admitted that a test and reserve role next year is potentially on the table and di Resta contends that he is closer to achieving his dream than ever. Its a great opportunity and something I have waited a very long time to get a hold of, the West Lothian native told BBC Scotland. Who knows what the future holds, but my aim is to get into Formula 1. It is a very exciting time, and I have to be realistic and productive over these testing days. It is very difficult to predict anything. Force India are giving me a chance to drive the car, and we are looking to try to bond a relationship that will work for many years to come. I need to build myself up-to-speed in the car, because its very…

Posted by admin 2 December 2009

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