Today, the Force India Formula One Team and principal sponsors, Whyte & Mackay confirmed that Paul di Resta will be the team’s test and reserve driver for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The news was announced at a press conference held at Whyte & Mackay’s Glasgow headquarters in Paul’s native Scotland.
Twenty-three year old Paul, from West Lothian, impressed in his three day test in Jerez, Spain, in December 2009. He will now attend all races on the 2010 calendar and the team envisages he will participate in a number of Friday practice sessions to fully understand the VJM03, particularly given the ban on in-season testing will continue into next year. Additionally Paul will combine his F1 activities with a programme in DTM, which will serve the dual purpose of allowing Paul to learn the current F1 tracks while keeping his racing skills sharp.
Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal, commented, ‘I would like to thank both Paul and JR Hildebrand for their commitment in the test in Jerez. Both worked very hard and were impressive in the test. We are very proud to have someone of Paul’s calibre joining the team as his potential was clear in the test and he has the right attitude for making it in F1. The programme we have put together will allow him to get to grips with the car, the team and the environment and various pressures associated with F1 and we look forward to this becoming a very fruitful partnership.
Paul di Resta added, ‘I am ecstatic to finally get the chance to move into F1 at last. I’m pleased I can start my F1 career with Force India, a team that has a lot of potential. I see this move as taking me one step closer to achieving my dream of racing in F1 but I know I have a lot to learn in terms of the car and the tracks right now. I think this programme is a perfect way to prepare fully and be ready to go if and when the chance of a race seat comes. I hope this will be the start of a long-term future with Force India. With the support of all of the team, including Whyte & Mackay, I’m sure we will grow together.
John Beard, Chief Executive of Whyte & Mackay added, ‘Whyte & Mackay is proud of its global association with Force India and we are excited about the upcoming F1 season. It’s an added thrill for a Scotch whisky brand to see a talented Scottish driver achieve his Formula One ambitions. We welcome Paul to the team and look forward to working with him towards a successful season in 2010.
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Showing posts with label Di Resta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Di Resta. Show all posts
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Force India set to confirm di Resta
Paul di Resta is expected to be unveiled as Force India's reserve driver later today in a move that will move him a step closer a full-time Formula 1 seat.
The Scotsman, who has raced in the DTM for the last few years, is set to take a role that will give him track time during several Friday practice sessions in 2010 - and give him a chance to show his credentials for a race seat.
The team's decision comes after di Resta impressed Force India during an outing in last year's young driver test days at Jerez in Spain.
Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug has welcomed the move, having supported di Resta's career for several years.
"We were involved of course, and there was also already a discussion last year in that direction," Haug told AUTOSPORT. "I think he deserves it. He did a good job at the young driver test and I think he is one to watch. He is good. Very good."
The Scotsman, who has raced in the DTM for the last few years, is set to take a role that will give him track time during several Friday practice sessions in 2010 - and give him a chance to show his credentials for a race seat.
The team's decision comes after di Resta impressed Force India during an outing in last year's young driver test days at Jerez in Spain.
Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug has welcomed the move, having supported di Resta's career for several years.
"We were involved of course, and there was also already a discussion last year in that direction," Haug told AUTOSPORT. "I think he deserves it. He did a good job at the young driver test and I think he is one to watch. He is good. Very good."
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Di Resta hoping for Force India future
Paul di Resta hopes that his impressive Formula 1 test outing with Force India at Jerez this week can help him secure a future with the team.
The former McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner was a superb second quickest on the opening day of testing, despite only getting to drive the Mercedes-powered VJM02 during the afternoon.
A morning run on Wednesday, in less favourable track conditions, did little to slow him down as he went fourth quickest.
"The goal was to get this [Force India] test done and then see," said the British driver, who had not driven an F1 car since a one-day test with McLaren at Silverstone last year.
"I don't have any concrete plans for next year but I hope that I can build a solid relationship with Force India for the future off the back of this test."
Although Force India has signed Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi as its race drivers for next year, the position of test and reserve driver is still available. Di Resta and JR Hildebrand - who is also testing at Jerez this week - are the leading contenders.
Di Resta finished as runner-up in the DTM in 2008 and was also a race-winner in the championship this season with Mercedes.
He said that although he was keen to remain in the German-based series, he would also take time to evaluate his options in F1.
"For sure there is a lot of potential in the DTM, but after this test I need to sit down and look at what I want to do and where I want to go," he added
The former McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner was a superb second quickest on the opening day of testing, despite only getting to drive the Mercedes-powered VJM02 during the afternoon.
A morning run on Wednesday, in less favourable track conditions, did little to slow him down as he went fourth quickest.
"The goal was to get this [Force India] test done and then see," said the British driver, who had not driven an F1 car since a one-day test with McLaren at Silverstone last year.
"I don't have any concrete plans for next year but I hope that I can build a solid relationship with Force India for the future off the back of this test."
Although Force India has signed Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi as its race drivers for next year, the position of test and reserve driver is still available. Di Resta and JR Hildebrand - who is also testing at Jerez this week - are the leading contenders.
Di Resta finished as runner-up in the DTM in 2008 and was also a race-winner in the championship this season with Mercedes.
He said that although he was keen to remain in the German-based series, he would also take time to evaluate his options in F1.
"For sure there is a lot of potential in the DTM, but after this test I need to sit down and look at what I want to do and where I want to go," he added
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Di Resta impresses in Force India Jerez test
Di Resta has been competing in the DTM touring car championship
Scotland's Paul di Resta posted the second-quickest time at the end of the first day of Formula 1's young driver test at Jerez in Spain.
The West Lothian driver, 23, vying for a place as Force India's test and reserve driver for the 2010 season, finished behind Spain's Andy Soucek.
Di Resta was eight places ahead of his team rival, American JR Hildebrand.
Fellow Briton Gary Paffett was third with Mike Conway fifth, and Oliver Turvey posted the 11th quickest time.
Di Resta - the cousin of IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti - started three days of testing with the Force India team on Tuesday.
"It's a great opportunity and something I have waited a very long time to get a hold of," Di Resta told BBC Scotland earlier this week. "Who knows what the future holds, but my aim is to get into Formula 1."
The Scot began his career in karting before moving into British Formula Renault and then the Formula Three Euroseries, beating present F1 Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel to the title in 2006.
The Scot moved to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) championship in 2007 and has previously been linked with a move to F1 with McLaren Mercedes and Virgin Racing.
Force India, who finished ninth in the F1 championship in the season just past, have decided to retain Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi as their drivers for 2010.
"It is a very exciting time and I have to be realistic and productive over these testing days," said Di Resta, who began racing go-karts from the age of three.
"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.
Becoming a test driver would bring Di Resta within touching distance of following fellow Euroseries graduates Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton into an F1 race car.
Scotland's Paul di Resta posted the second-quickest time at the end of the first day of Formula 1's young driver test at Jerez in Spain.
The West Lothian driver, 23, vying for a place as Force India's test and reserve driver for the 2010 season, finished behind Spain's Andy Soucek.
Di Resta was eight places ahead of his team rival, American JR Hildebrand.
Fellow Briton Gary Paffett was third with Mike Conway fifth, and Oliver Turvey posted the 11th quickest time.
Di Resta - the cousin of IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti - started three days of testing with the Force India team on Tuesday.
"It's a great opportunity and something I have waited a very long time to get a hold of," Di Resta told BBC Scotland earlier this week. "Who knows what the future holds, but my aim is to get into Formula 1."
The Scot began his career in karting before moving into British Formula Renault and then the Formula Three Euroseries, beating present F1 Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel to the title in 2006.
The Scot moved to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) championship in 2007 and has previously been linked with a move to F1 with McLaren Mercedes and Virgin Racing.
Force India, who finished ninth in the F1 championship in the season just past, have decided to retain Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio Liuzzi as their drivers for 2010.
"It is a very exciting time and I have to be realistic and productive over these testing days," said Di Resta, who began racing go-karts from the age of three.
"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.
Becoming a test driver would bring Di Resta within touching distance of following fellow Euroseries graduates Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton into an F1 race car.
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