Motorsport

Motorsport: DTM

Flying Scot di Resta in front as DTM heads for UK

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Second placed Di Resta (far left), now leads DTM touring car series

25th May 2007

Little-known Paul di Resta leads the all-action DTM German touring car championship. The Scot, cousin of IndyCar star Dario Franchitti and current European Formula Three champ, finished second

in the latest round at the Lausitzring. He trailed former Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen, who scored his second-ever DTM race win. Despite racing a two-year-old Mercedes C-Class, 21-
year-old di Resta has posted two podiums in the first three rounds of 2007.

And it’s that consistency which has led to him taking a shock lead as the DTM heads to Britain for round four at Brands Hatch on 10 June. “I would never have dreamed about leading the series at this stage. I hope there will be many fans out there to support me in my home race,” he said. Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug was full of praise for di Resta. “He’s a bit like Lewis Hamilton in F1, as he’s on top of the points table.” Winner of the previous round Gary Paffett had a torrid race, but finished in eighth.