Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta will start his bid to win the 2009 German Touring Car Championship (DTM) at Hockenheim on May 17. The 22-year-old Scot, the leading Mercedes-Benz driver, finished second in this year’s championship.
Di Resta, who earlier this week learned he will not switch to the McLaren-backed Force India Formula One team, is determined to go one step further and claim the DTM title.
“This season was hugely productive for me in terms of racing with a top Mercedes DTM team,” Di Resta said, “and next season I’m determined to go out and win races right from the start of the season.
“We proved this year that we were the fastest-improving team in the championship and I know if we can maintain that level of development we can win the championship in 2009.”
Disappointingly for Di Resta, the Italian round of the championship at Mugello has been dropped for next season because of a date clash with the Italian round of MotoGP.
Details of the nine-round calendar, which starts on May 17, includes races in five European countries including Germany, Holland, France, Spain and Britain. Brands Hatch hosts the UK round on September 6.
JM