Bathgate bullet grabs new F1 deal

Dec 22 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

F1 rookie sensation Paul Di Resta’s impressive debut season has earned him a new deal with Sahara Force India.

The 25-year-old has been handed a new contract by the Silverstone-based outfit after impressing the team’s bosses with a strong finish to his rookie season.

He is set to head the team while their 2011 reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg replaces Adrian Sutil as Di Resta’s team-mate.

But after crossing swords with some of the sports iconic characters, that is unlikely to phase the Autosport Awards’ Rookie of the Year, who will be the only Scot on the starting grid next year.

Di Resta: “I’m really looking forward to my second season of Formula One and continuing to grow and develop with Sahara Force India.

“I’ve said all along that I love being part of this team.

“They are ambitious, hungry for success and we work well together.

“I’m really excited about 2012 and there is a real sense of belief that we can continue to push the top teams and take another step forward.”

An average start saw the Bathgate Bullet notch up only two points in his opening 10 races, but he soon found form and track speed with a seventh place-finish in Hungary, handing him six points.

Di Resta clearly took confidence from the success and followed it up with an eighth in Italy two races later and then his highest season finish of sixth in Singapore.

His eight points in that race was followed by more points in three of his final four races, cementing his growing F1 reputation as a reliable as well as talented driver.

And now the fine finish has led to the Bathgate racer beating off fierce competition to land the sought-after race seat.

Sahara Force India snatched sixth place from more established teams such as Sauber and Williams in the Constructor’s Championships.

Di Resta added: “I’d also like to thank the team for all their hard work this year and for all the support that they’ve given me.

“I’ll take some time out over the next few weeks to recharge my batteries and hopefully come back even stronger in 2012.”