Di Resta splashes to second at Le Mans

Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta heads to the final race of the German Touring Car Championship at Hockenheim in three weeks just two points off the lead after scoring a dramatic second place in the rain-affected penultimate round in France.

The 22-year-old Scot, who won a fortnight ago in Barcelona, started today’s race on the Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans from fourth on the grid but soon dropped back through the field after gambling on wet tyres.

But after pitting for slicks as the track continued to dry, Di Resta began fighting his way back through the field before another light shower made conditions treacherous and the Scot slithered off the circuit a number of times in his Mercedes.

Again the track dried, but moments before making his second mandatory pitstop a final heavy shower swept across the French circuit and this was to play perfectly into the hands of Di Resta.

With 11 laps remaining, the Scot opted to fit wet-weather tyres and he rejoined the field in fourth behind the Audi of eventual race winner Mattias Ekstrom but, crucially, just ahead of championship leader Timo Scheider’s Audi.

Di Resta, tipped to switch to the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team next season partnering Lewis Hamilton as a test driver, then passed the Merc of Gary Paffett, before taking second from the Audi of Frenchman Alexandre Premat.

While Di Resta settled for second, his Mercedes team-mate and multiple champ Bernd Schneider did him a favour by overtaking Scheider for fifth with two laps remaining when the German ran wide at Turn 3.

“That was just chaotic,” Di Resta, who has now finished second three times in the last four races, admitted afterwards. “We took a gamble on wet tyres at the start of the race and we quickly realised it was the wrong option, so I had to make an extra pitstop to switch to slicks.

“After that it was a case of getting the head down and pushing as hard and as fast as I could in the hope we could save something from the day. Fortunately the rain came on just before I was due to make my final pitstop and we were able to capitalise by putting on wets. 

“We started the weekend seven points behind Timo and now we head to the final race separated by just two points. Hockenheim was always going to be thrilling, but now we go there with a lot of momentum and a real chance of winning the championship.”

JM 

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