Bathgate’s Paul Di Resta will start from the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s second round of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) at the EuroSpeedway at Lausitz.
Two weeks after finishing lead Mercedes driver, but a disappointing fifth overall behind four Audis in the opening race at Hockenheim, the 22-year-old Scot is hoping to repeat his victory at Lausitz.
“I love racing at the EuroSpeedway,” Di Resta said today after qualifying second behind the polesitting Audi of Swede Mattias Ekstrom. “It’s a circuit which just seems to suit my style of driving.
“It’s a great combination of high-speed sections and the rather slow, tight infield corners so technically it’s very demanding racetrack. I won here last year and set the fastest lap of the race, so I’d love to repeat that tomorrow.
“Mercedes have won here for the past three years, and I know we have a good race set-up which balances sufficient downforce on the one hand without making too much impact on my top speed on the other. We’re here to win.”
Di Resta, who was only denied last year’s title in the final race of the season, coped brilliantly with the changing conditions which saw a heavy rainstorm sweep across the circuit midway through the opening qualifying session.
Behind the Scot, who again qualified fastest Mercedes driver with a best lap of 1min 33.534secs, German duo Mike Rockenfeller and defending champ Timo Scheider start third and fourth in their Audis.
Di Resta’s AMG team-mate, former F1 grand prix winner Ralf Schumacher, lines up 19th and last after he failed to complete a lap as his car suffered engine problems. Oban’s Susie Stoddart starts 14th in her Mercedes.
JM