F1 ace Paul di Resta backs Scots Festivalposted in RSCOT30 | 08 | 2011
BATHGATE'S FORMULA ONE ace Paul di Resta as pledged his support for the inaugural Scottish Motorsport Festival. The 10-day event will celebrate the success of Scotland which, as a small country, has outperformed on the motorsport stages around the world.
Formula One World Championship titles, Indianapolis 500 victories, IndyCar championships, Le Mans 24 Hours wins and World Rally Championship crowns have all been lifted by Scots drivers.
“Scotland has a fine tradition of producing some great motor racing talents, which is remarkable when you consider that we’re not the biggest country in the world," Di Resta, who will return to F1 action at Monza in 10 days with Force India, said today.
“When I was starting out in karting there was a lot to inspire me. I was always hearing stories about the great Jim Clark and, of course, Sir Jackie Stewart, who continues to help and support Scottish drivers.
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"More recently there was David Coulthard, who I remember watching on television when I was growing up. It was always my goal to follow in his footsteps and help make Scotland proud.
“But it’s not just Formula 1 where Scottish drivers have shown their skill," Di Resta (pictured), himself a European F3 Champion, as well as 2010 DTM champ with Mercedes, continued.
"We have been well represented in most major championships around the world with drivers like Dario Franchitti, my cousin, winning the Indy 500 twice and Allan McNish having great success in sports cars.
“We also have a great tradition in rallying thanks to the legacy of Colin McRae, who is surely remembered as one of the most spectacular drivers of all time.
"With icons like these there is plenty to inspire the next generation of Scottish motor sport stars.”
The festival has also been welcomed by five-times British rally champ Jimmy McRae.
“To have a motorsport festival that is designed to further promote all the opportunities that exist within our sport means we look to grow on Scotland’s success into the future," the rally veteran said.
"That so many of the activities include kids is one of the reason the Colin McRae Vision Charity is supporting this initiative as this is the reason for the charity, but it is also where the future champions will come from.”
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The Scottish Motorsport Festival gets underway with an all-star forum — including 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist — run by Colin McRae Vision on the eve of the McRae Stages Rally in Perth on Friday, September 30.
The following day Blomqvist will take part in the Historic section of the McRae Stages before the Scottish Rally Championship crews take to the stages for the last round of their eight-rally season.
The next seven days will see events — including 80 young children introduced to karting in Glasgow — take place across Scotland.
The festival comes to a noisy conclusion with the third running of RallyScotland, the penultimate round of the Intercontinental Rally Championship in Perth and Stirling on October 7-9.
Coinciding with the final day of RallyScotland, Knockhill hosts the final race weekend of Scottish Motor Racing Club’s busy season. An action-packed afternoon of racing will feature Scottish Formula Ford, Legends, Mini Cooper, Sports & Saloon and Classic Sports & Saloon Championships.
With one eye on the future, the Scottish Motorsport Festival will culminate at Scone Palace on Sunday evening with a sneak preview at a new rally championship aimed at finding the next Scottish champion.
To be introduced in 2012, the championship is for 1000cc cars driven by children aged from 14-17 years of age.
Accompanied by experienced competitors in the co-drivers’ seats, these budding young Colin McRaes can start learn the art of driving over loose surfaces before they are allowed out on the open, public road.
To showcase this exciting new series, six of the cars will be providing a demonstration around the final two stages of RallyScotland at Scone Palace.
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Jim McGill