Paul di Resta doesn’t need to be schooled in the art of motorsport. When the Force India driver makes his first Formula One start at the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, he will come up against only an elite few who can compete with his impressive CV.  

He’s a winner in all categories, across different formats, and all after being born into a renowned motorsport family.  Now he is ready to take to the biggest stage of them all – Formula One. 

Was there ever any doubt that he would reach it though? Undoubtedly at some stage, of course, but if any driver had the correct career guidance, then it was he. Dario Franchitti, Di Resta’s cousin, is a massively successful competitor across the Atlantic, having won three Indy Car series’ and being twice the victor in one of motorsport’s crown jewels, the Indianapolis 500. 

In addition to this, Dario’s younger brother Marino is an experienced Le Mans competitor, and even his own father dipped his toes in the water with a lifelong karting hobby. Evidently, there’s no shortage of racing blood in the family, and the talent is spread across a broad spectrum.  Di Resta, 23, is about to expand that further with his venture into Formula One. 

Like the majority of his contemporaries, The Scot, who was born in Livingston, started off in karts. After six years cutting his teeth at the bottom of the racing pyramid, he drove his first single-seater aged just 16. His first taste of competition came in the Formula Renault Winter Series of 2002, before stepping up to the regular summer series in 2003. 

Two impressive seasons culminated in him winning the prestigious McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year competition in 2004, following in the footsteps of cousin Dario, who himself won it 12 years previously. 

Di Resta made the switch to Formula 3 for the 2005 season, and only a year later, was crowned champion, winning five races and beating none other than current F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, his then teammate, in the process. 

The youngster’s reputation continued to grow, but in somewhat of a surprising move, Di Resta switched from single-seaters to touring cars for 2007, taking a racing seat in the DTM series with Mercedes. Three years with the team ended last year with the Scot taking the championship with three victories. 

Di Resta’s links with the Force India Formula One team were mooted as early as in 2009, with rumours that the team, who were supplied engines by Mercedes, would give him a race-seat alongside Adrian Sutil. However, they decided to retain the experienced Giancarlo Fisichella, and Di Resta was forced to wait in the wings.

Come 2010, Di Resta had earned a permanent test drive with Force India to dovetail with his racing in the DTM series, and he had his eyes set on the much-vaunted race-seat for 2011. Formula One was abound with rumours that the Scot was to replace Vitantonio Liuzzi, and on January 26th this year, the team confirmed Di Resta’s position to race alongside Sutil. His destiny was achieved. 

   

Paul Di Resta will become the 15th Scottish driver to compete in Formula One, and here’s three of the best. He’s in some illustrious company. 

Jim Clark – Considered by many to be the greatest of them all, Jim Clark won two World Championships and 25 races with the Lotus team between 1960 and 1968. Born into a farming family in Fife, the Scot with modest roots went onto to forge a legendary career at the very pinnacle of motorsport, working in tandem with Lotus founder Colin Chapman. Their personal and professional relationship remains one of the defining stories in Formula One history. Clark’s career was tragically cut short when he suffered fatal injuries in a Formula 2 crash at the Hockenheimring in 1968. 

Jackie Stewart – Another driver who had an eight-year Formula One career filled with glittering success was Jackie Stewart. Three world championships and 27 wins earned him the tag of the ‘Flying Scot’, but it’s his post-racing legacy as much as his results which have cemented his place in the sport’s history. A major influence on the increased driver safety measures of recent years, the patriotic Stewart is one of Formula One’s most recognisable faces, having dabbled in, among other things, team ownership and commentary over the years. 

David Coulthard – He won no titles, but Coulthard earns his spot through his admirable longevity over a 14-year career spanning an incredible 246 starts. Now working as a television pundit, it would be easy to gloss over his past, but some of his achievements are unparalleled – most notably, no driver has driven in more races for McLaren than the loveable DC. With so much experience, he also played a key role in the formative years for Red Bull Racing, yet was no slouch either – Coulthard earned 13 wins over his time in F1, with memorable consecutive triumphs at Silverstone in 1999 and 2000.    

Words by Ben Mouncer, a freelance sports writer based in Norfolk

benmouncer89@hotmail.co.uk