Force India Formula One test driver Paul di Resta found himself back in 13th place, and embarrassingly behind fellow Scots Susie Stoddart and David Coulthard after the first practice session for tomorrow’s DTM round at the Lausitzring.
But the 24-year-old from Bathgate, exactly one-second off the day’s fastest time, laughed off the lack of performance from his 2010-spec Mercedes.
“Five of the top six cars were all older model cars from 2008, and that’s simply because they have all the material from past races,” di Resta explained today, “but once we get our car dialled in overnight, we’ll be back out in front tomorrow.”
Di Resta heads into tomorrow’s qualifying lying fourth in the championship, seven points adrift of leader Bruno Spengler, and only three behind third-placed Gary Paffett, both in identical Merc to the Scot.
Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller set the pace for Audi in today’s test, lapping the circuit in 1min 19.770secs in his 2008 car, 0.110s ahead of fellow German Timo Scheider in another Audi.
Oban’s Susie Stoddart finished the day fifth-fastest, just 0.528s behind Rockenfeller and 0.068s ahead of sixth-placed Coulthard. It was the best performance of the season since the 13-time grands prix winner returned to competitive action.
JM