Force India confirm Di Resta’s first drive

Scotland’s new Formula One driver, Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta, will get a first taste of his 2010 Force India car at Jerez next Wednesday (Feb17), the team has confirmed.

The 23-year-old, who will double as the team’s reserve and test driver, was at the Spanish circuit today to watch the Force India VJM03 being put through its paces for the first time by Italian Tonio Liuzzi.

“There’s no question next Wednesday will be a big day in my life,” Di Resta said as he sheltered from the incessant drizzle which plagued the opening day of the four-day F1 test.

“Tonio did a good job in the conditions today and I know everyone in the team is happy with what we’ve achieved. This has been my first working day with the team at a full F1 test, and it’s been very encouraging.

“Now though, all I really want to do is get in the car and drive. But like with so much in my racing career, I’m having to be patient. I’ve been patient so far, so another week isn’t going to make any great difference.”

Liuzzi was seventh-quickest at the end of the opening day which was dominated by the weather and ended with the new Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg topping the timesheets.

The German, who like all the drivers posted his fastest time in the opening 50 minutes of the day before the rain came, lapped the track in 1min 20.927secs to shade Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi by just 0.104s.

World champ Jenson Button’s best was sixth with a best of  1m24.947s in his McLaren, 4.020s behind Rosberg, while double world champ Fernando Alonso was fourth  for Ferrari after clocking 1m22.895s.

And while the F1 drivers will be hoping for better conditions today, Aussie Mark Webber will also be hoping for a better luck after he was forced to sit out most of the first day when his new Red Bull suffered an oil leak.

Di Resta meanwhile, who will drive the Force India car in all the Friday test sessions immediately ahead of this year’s grands prix, will tomorrow get his first taste of the new Mercedes he will pilot in this season’s DTM.

The Scot, who will dovetail his DTM activities with his F1 testing, will drive the car at the Monteblanco Circuit further west along Spain’s Huelva coast.

JM

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