Di Resta's Spa breakposted in F124 | 08 | 2011

IT'S BEEN FOUR WEEKS since Bathgate's Paul di Resta powered his Force India VJM04 to a career-best seventh-place in Hungary; now the 25-year-old Scot is ready to get back into action at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend after the lengthy summer break.

Before heading to the famous track which will host the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, Paul spoke with Scotcars' Jim McGill.

JM: I imagine it's been good to have the best part of four weeks off; have you enjoyed the break and what have you been up to?

PdR: It's been brilliant; and it's been very quiet. I think it's the longest spell for a number of years that I've spent three weeks — including weekends — in my own bed at home.

Sure I've done a lot of training at the gym in Monaco, but I've really just chilled out with a lot of close family and friends; and I've enjoyed being in the sun. The weather's been fantastic right through the break and it has, honestly, been like being on holiday.

I think this is one of the best things Formula One has done, make it compulsory for everyone to have a break through August. It's a legal requirement that everything in the sport shuts down, so we've had no emails, no calls on the mobile, no interviews, no nothing … just time to relax and recharge the batteries.

So I imagine you're eager to get back into the car?

Yes, I have to admit, it'll be good to get back to work, especially after having done so well in the last race in Hungary (pictured) before the summer break.

Yes, an F1 career-best seventh-place at the Hungaroring was a great way to start the summer break

It certainly made relaxing that bit easier. Having been so close to good, high point-scoring positions in a few of the races before that, it was great to finally deliver the goods, not just for me but for everyone in the Force India team.

Traditionally — certainly over the last couple of years — the Mercedes-powered Force India has performed well at Spa; what are you expecting this weekend?

I'm certainly expecting to have a competitive car, and I know the whole weekend will be demanding because Spa is one of the toughest, and longest circuits on the calendar.

It's not like any of these new, modern, recently-built circuits which are essentially flat. Spa, as everyone knows, rides the contours of the hillside it's set into and the biggest challenge is coping with learning you use those contours to their maximum.

You definitely need a different philosophy to drive at Spa, but it's certainly a driver's circuit, especially when you throw into the equation the way the weather traditionally plays a part in proceedings.

You've raced there before in Euro F3; what are your memories?

Just that it's a fast, and tough circuit. I think I finished fourth or fifth.

And expectations this weekend?

We'll be fast again, and if we can be the quickest of the teams outside the top three — Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari — then we'll gladly take that and accept it as a job well done.

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Jim McGill