by Russell Atkins
Reigning Formula 3 Euroseries champion Paul di Resta now stands at a crossroads in his career as he aims for the top, with a drive for Mercedes in the DTM rumoured to be on the cards.
Here the 20-year-old looks back over his title-winning campaign, and ahead to a future that seems set to involve a conversion to tin-tops en route to what he hopes will be a successful career in Formula One, following in the footsteps of 2005 Euroseries champion
Lewis Hamilton.
Q:
Paul, you had a fantastic season in the Formula 3 Euroseries last year. How did it feel to lift the crown at the end of it?
Paul di Resta:
It’s everything we could have really hoped for – you can’t ask for any more than that. It was a great season with good competition and a great team to work with. I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of it. I’d even do it again!
Q:
Back at the start of the year did you think the season would go the way it did?
PdR:
Yeah, I knew it had to. I had to go into it as, if not the favourite, certainly one of them. We had a good first year in the Euroseries in 2005. The speed was there. Ok, the results were not as we planned due to some bad luck but we set three poles. I knew the team was going to be a bit of an improvement too. They brought me on as a driver and the things they taught me were just crucial.
Q:
You had a very close rivalry with
Sebastian Vettel all the way through the season – how tough was that?
PdR:
It was always going to be difficult, especially with the new reverse grids, but when you get down you’ve got to lift yourself back up again quickly and I think that’s where we beat Sebastian. We got five poles and Sebastian only managed to beat me once in qualifying. That was the key I think. We won the first race and were on the podium for most of the early ones. As far as speed went, it was good all year.
Q:
Sebastian has now gone on to become BMW-Sauber’s test-driver in
Formula One. How are your plans shaping up for 2007?
PdR:
They are going well. I just have to wait and see what Mercedes are going to do. It’s up to them to decide the best path for me. They are great guys, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am just now. I hope I can work closely with them in the future, wherever that may be. They have done a lot for me and I hope to repay them.
Q:
You have been linked with a drive in the DTM. How would you feel about switching over to tin-tops?
