Di Resta to test Jaguar FE race car 03 | 01 | 2018

    BATHGATE’S PAUL DI RESTA will test Jaguar’s all-electric Formula E car later this month in Marrakech. The test marks an intensive start to 2018 for the 31-year-old Scot. (Related: Di Resta completes first LMP2 test)

    Di Resta, currently the Williams F1 reserve driver and Mercedes DTM racer, will fly to Morocco immediately after completing his official test this weekend for the Daytona 24 Hours in Florida. (Related: Scot Allan McNish leads Audi Formula E)

    The Scot will make his sportscar debut in the 24-hours endurance race driving the No32 United Autosports Ligier JS P217 alongside Bruno Senna, Will Owen and Hugo de Sadeleer. (Related: Watch our LMP2 video with Paul di Resta)

    But ahead of the Daytona race weekend on January 27/28, Di Resta will get his first experience of a Formula E car when he drives the Jaguar in Morocco on January 14. The test immediately follows the third round of the 2017/18 FE Championship on the streets of Marrakech.

    Worth highlighting here that Mercedes — the manufacturer Di Resta has a long association with — will enter Formula E as a works team for the 2019/20 season.

    “So far, January’s all about firsts for me,” Di Resta said today. “First time racing at the Daytona International Speedway; first 24-hours race; first race in a sportscar, and now first time driving a Formula E car.

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    “I’m really looking forward to getting my first experience of the Jaguar I-type 2. This is the right time of year to have a go, and it’s a terrific opportunity.

    “I know it’ll be an extremely demanding and intensive day of testing in Marrakech, but I’m sure I’ll be able to give some positive feedback to the team. It’s great to start a relationship with them.” (Related: Jaguar I-Pace to go racing)

    Di Resta is acknowledged for his detailed, technical feedback from tests, and has extensive knowledge and experience of working on simulators with Mercedes, Williams and McLaren.

    It’s also worth highlight there is also a direct link between Williams and the Jaguar FE team. Williams Advanced Engineering is the team’s technical partner, and was the brains behind the stunning Jaguar C-X75 concept car from a few years ago.

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    And Jaguar has used its involvement in FE, along with Williams Advanced Engineering, to develop the battery technology which will make its production debut in the I-Pace. The all-electric SUV, designed by Scot Ian Callum, will go on-sale at Scottish dealerships in March, priced from around £60,000. (Related: Jaguar I-Pace 200-mile road trip)

    Back to FE. Jaguar currently runs New Zealander Mitch Evans and Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jnr in its two race cars. Evans finished third and 13th in the two opening races of the season in Hong Kong, while former F1 racer Piquet bagged a fourth and 12th.

    Former DTM champ Di Resta remains in contention to replace Felipe Massa alongside Lance Stroll in the Williams F1 team for the 2018 season. (Related: Di Resta tests Williams F1 car)

    But the Scot, who sat in for Massa when the Brazilian was unwell at Hungary last year, faces stiff competition from Sergey Sirotkin. The young Russian is known to have a significant sponsorship package behind him.

    Related: Di Resta impresses on F1 return

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    Jim McGill

     

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