Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta will start from the front row of the grid in Barcelona as he bids for back-to-back victories in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM).
The 23-year-old Scot, who started from pole as he dominated the last round at Brands Hatch a fortnight ago, was just 0.064-seconds slower than Tom Kristensen’s Audi and had to content himself with second spot on the Spanish grid.
“Sure it’s disappointing not to get a second pole position in a row,” the Scots Mercedes ace admitted on Saturday after setting a best lap of 1m06.889s at the Circuit de Catalunya. “I know I made only a slight mistake on my fastest lap.
“But I know I have a fast car in race trim and we’ll be doing everything possible to get back-to-back victories which would hopefully allow me to put in a last-minute charge for the championship.”
Di Resta, currently fourth in the championship with three rounds remaining, is 14 points behind the Audi of championship leader and defending champ Timo Scheider. But the Scots’ hopes were boosted after the German could only qualify sixth.
There was further good news for Di Resta’s title hopes when England’s Gary Paffett — currently third in the championship — could only manage fifth in qualifying and Swede Mattias Ekstrom, second in the title race, struggled to seventh on the grid.
JM
