Di Resta excited to land No 1 driver spot with Aston Martin for DTM

Paul Paul di Resta is to lead Aston Martin’s assault on the DTM, the German touring car championship. The 32-yearold ex-formula 1 racer won the 2010 DTM title with the Hwarun factory Mercedes team.

“It’s a dream drive, and I can’t wait to get the car on the track for the first time,” Di Resta said yesterday. “The opportunity to drive for an iconic British carmaker like Aston Martin is fantastic.”

In the wake of Mercedes quitting DTM for this season, and HWA developing the Aston Martin Vantage on behalf of Swiss-based team R-motorsport, the Bathgate driver, pictured, was always top of the list to race the new car.

And when he met R-motorsport chiefs Florian Kamelger and Andreas Baenziger at a DTM round during 2018, Di Resta admits he was immediately convinced by the project.

“I was convinced from my very first meeting with Florian and Andreas,” he explained.

“I’vealsoworkedwithhwa since my Formula 3 days, and I strongly believe they’re the stand-out organisation in every series they contest. They were one of the big reasons behind Mercedes’ DTM success, and I’ve got absolute trust and belief that R-motorsport can do the job.

“After Mercedes’ withdrawal last year, R-motorsport’s Aston Martin announcement really lifted everyone’s spirits. “The whole organisation is totally professional and 100 per cent focused. I think we can do this.”

In addition to being the team’s No1 driver – its second Aston Martin will be raced by 23-year-old Englishman Jake Dennis – Di Resta will help lead the development path of DTM’S newest marque.

“Coming in at ground level with an all-new DTM brand was one of the main things I discussed with R-motorsport when we started the initial talks,” the Scot admitted.

“It won’t be an easy task: we’re a relatively small outfit upagainsttwoofthebestmanufacturers in the world.”

The 2019 DTM 18-race season, which visits nine venues – including Brands Hatch, in Kent, on 10-11 August – gets underway with the traditional season-opener at Hockenheim on 3-5 May .