Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta returns to Brands Hatch in Kent for the latest round of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) tomorrow hoping to end what has become a forlorn and frustratingly disappointing season.
The 22-year-old Scot, who was only denied the DTM title last year in a controversial final round and who punctuated his season with a series of wins and podiums, has still to finish in the top three this season.
“It’s difficult to put a finger on just what’s happened this year,” Di Resta admitted today. “We’ve had a few technical problems and things haven’t gone my way in qualifying, and when that happens you’re stuck back in the pack.
“That’s when you get held up and involved in other people’s battles and scraps. The key to being competitive this weekend is qualifying in the top two or three, and that’s what I’ll be aiming for.
“Competing in front of your home fans is always the highlight of the season for any drivers and I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure, if I don’t win, at least I finish on the podium and give the big crowd something to cheer.”
Di Resta’s season hit a new low three weeks ago at the Nurburgring in the last round when he was forced to retire his Mercedes after its rear wing came off at high speed just before the first corner.
The Scot, whose best finish this year is fourth, trails the Audi of championship leader and defending champ Timo Scheider by 16 points with just four races remaining.
The German leads his countryman Mattias Ekstrom by just one point with Di Resta’s Mercedes team-mate, England’s Gary Paffett (correct, Paffett), third, a further five points adrift.
JM