Di Resta to make Le Mans debut 30 | 03 | 2018
BATHGATE’S PAUL DI RESTA will make his Le Mans 24-Hours debut in June. The 31-year-old Scot will tackle the world’s most gruelling endurance race with United Autosports, driving the team’s Ligier JS P217. (Related: Rory Butcher confirms 2018 BTCC campaign)
Despite it being his first time at the famous 8.46-mile La Sarthe circuit, Di Resta is confident hi squad has every chance of winning the highly competitive LMP2 class.
“The task is to go and win, and from what I’ve been told, that’s not too ambitious,” the Scot, who will share his car with England’s Phil Hanson, and Portuguese driver Filipe Albuquerque, said today.
“We will do the best job we possibly can during the build-up, qualifying, and the race, to ensure we have everything in place to make a serious challenge for the win.”
Former DTM champ and F1 racer Di Resta made his sportscar debut with United Autosports earlier this year, driving the Ligier in the Daytona 24-Hours, where he finished fourth. He also contested the Sebring 12 Hours, finishing fifth with Alex Brundle and Hanson.
And Di Resta, who will also contest this year’s DTM championship with Mercedes, in tandem with his role as Sky Sports F1 analyst, is looking forward to the Le Mans challenge.
“Obviously I’m delighted to be continuing the partnership with United Autosports, and the opportunity to tackle the world’s biggest endurance race for sportscars is something I’ve always dreamed of,” he said.
“The team made an impressive debut at Le Mans last year, finishing fifth overall and fourth in LMP2. It’s a race I’ve always looked at closely, and now I’m getting the chance at the right time to have a go.
“It will be good to race alongside Phil again, after the Sebring 12 Hours — which was really a success for us — and I’m excited to see how partnering Filipe goes. I’ve known him a long time, and he is a credit to endurance racing.”
Di Resta’s elevation to a Le Mans sportscar racer was praised by Richard Dean, United Autosports team owner and managing director.
“I was keen to get Paul in our car for the race after his excellent performance at Daytona,” Dean explained. “His drive at Sebring just confirmed it as well.
“He looks like a seasoned sports car driver, even though Sebring was only his second sports car race. Paul really fits in well with the team and he has made a positive contribution to what we are trying to achieve here.
“I’m excited for Le Mans; fingers crossed we can have a good result like in 2017, and maybe even go one better and head for the podium.”
Zak Brown, team owner and United Autosports chairman, admitted he too was thrilled to have Di Resta on board for Le Mans 2018.
“I’m thrilled to have Paul join our Le Mans 24 Hours team,” Brown, who also owns the McLaren F1 team, plus the road car company, said.
“He has done a fantastic job racing in America for United Autosports and I know he will continue that onto Le Mans. He knows the car now so all he’s got to learn is the circuit, which I’m confident he will do quickly.”
The team will also run a second Ligier at Le Mans, which starts at 3pm on June 16, for American Will Owen, Swiss racer Hugo de Sadeleer, and former F1 race winner, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.
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Jim McGill