Bathgate Bullet bags Forumla One race seat

Jan 27 2011 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

PAUL DI RESTA was yesterday handed a set of keys to the Formula One kingdom as he was officially unveiled as a full-time driver for Force India this season.

The Bathgate Bullet, who was test and reserve driver last year, has been handed a race seat where he will line-up on the starting grid alongside German Adrian Sutil with Italian Tonio Liuzzi dropping out of last year’s line-up for the team.

Nico Hülkenberg will join Force India as the new test and reserve driver as part of a long-term partnership with the team.

The promotion for di Resta comes after a stunning season for Force India in their Friday test sessions.

Di Resta was also crowned DTM Champion, winning the title in stunning fashion in Shanghai in what is acknowledged as the toughest saloon car series in the world.

And the 24-year-old admits it is a life-long dream come true to have earned a race seat beside the world’s elite drivers.

He said: “Naturally I am thrilled to be making my race debut this season.

“Becoming an F1 driver has been a long-held ambition of mine.

“This is something I've wanted to do since I first stepped into a kart, and to finally realise my dream feels amazing.

“I've worked really hard for this opportunity throughout my career and to get it with Force India, a young team that's got ambitions as big as mine, is genuinely exciting.

“I can't wait to be on the grid in Bahrain — it can't come soon enough.”

Di Resta will be the first Scot in the Formula One paddock since David Coulthard hung up his helmet in 2008.

However, Force India owner Dr Vijay Mallya has no doubts over his ability.

Mallya said: “'I am genuinely excited by the drivers we will be fielding in 2011.

“I believe that the combination of talent we've assembled gives us one of the strongest line-ups on the grid.

“Adrian has matured into one of F1's most consistent and highly-rated young drivers, while Paul is, I believe, a real star of the future.

“He has won in every category in his career and this base speed was in evidence when he got in the car on Fridays last year.

“With Nico, signing him was too good an opportunity to let by. He showed a good racing head and talent and I was amazed by his control in Brazil last year.

“Together I think they are a formidable partnership and will help take us to the next level of performance.”

Formula One will hold no fears for di Resta who has an impressive record against current F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel whom he beat to the F3 Euroseries crown in 2006 while he has also chalked up race wins over former world champion Lewis Hamilton in the past.