Di Resta: We've regroupedposted in F121 | 06 | 2012

BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA heads to Valencia this weekend for the European Grand Prix. After the disappointments of Canada a fortnight ago, the 26-year-old Scot is determined to get back into the points with his Sahara Force India VJM05.

"There's no denying the fact that, as a team, we underachieved in Montreal," Di Resta, who has been preparing for this weekend's race by training on the beach outside his Spanish hotel, said.

"To run as high as fifth during the race, and then to finish out of the points definitely wasn't what we'd expected.

"But we've looked into the issues we had in the race, regrouped and believe we understand why we lost out.

"We definitely still need to lift our game, especially if we want to target fifth or sixth in the constructors’ championship."

And Di Resta, who is determined to improve on the 14-place finish he had at the Valencia harbourside track last year, heads to Valencia knowing it's a circuit he needs to get to grips with quickly.

"The circuit, is a mix between a street circuit and a normal track and it’s got a lot of corners to go with it," he continued, "maybe the most corners of any circuit on the calendar.

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"The track is very smooth, but it’s tricky to get on top of the set-up and if you don’t find the sweet spot it can make quite a big difference to your lap time across such a long lap.

"The main challenge is to be strong in the low-speed chicanes and also through the high-speed end of the lap. 

"There are some big braking zones too followed by big traction zones, so the degradation rate is quite high, which is why it’s hard to manage the rear tyres through the race.

"We proved in Canada that we still have a very fast car. What our aim is this weaken is to make sure we all work together to ensure we get back to scooting world championship points for the team."

With seven winners in the opening seven grands peril of the season, the championship is shaping up to be one of the closest in history.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton heads to Spain aiming to build on his slender two-point lead in the title race, with the Red Bull of double world champ Sebastien Vettel third, a further point adrift.

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Jim McGill