Di Resta fired up for finaleposted in F121 | 11 | 2013
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA aims to finish his 2013 season — his best points-scoring year so far in Formula One — with another positive result in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
And the 27-year-old Scot knows another strong showing will help his Sahara Force India team achieve its primary goal of the year, finishing sixth in the Constructors' Championship.
"Top of our agenda this weekend is doing everything we can to ensure Sahara Force India finishes sixth in the contractors' championship," Di Resta, backed by Whyte & Mackay Whisky, stated.
"We go into the race holding sixth position, 22 points ahead of Sauber. On paper it looks like a healthy gap, but we're certainly not taking anything for granted.
"There's 11 teams in F1, so for Sahara Force India — still one of the smaller teams in the sport — to finish sixth would be a terrific achievement.
"It would also equal the best ever result for the team and guarantee significant financial rewards: and it's that money which will help us make further progress next season. So we all know how important sixth place is.
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"The Interlagos circuit just outside Sao Paulo is one of the shortest of the year, and because of that every hundredth and thousandth of a second becomes even more critical in qualifying.
"The lap has a very nice flow with a real variation of undulations and corners. There are fast sections, slow corners, elevation changes and off-camber parts of the lap.
"People have asked if, because it's the final race of the year, we'll approach it differently? The simple answer is, 'no'.
"Of course we have the relatively comfortable gap over Sauber, but to get the points we need we still need to be aggressive and keep pushing.
"The weather forecast for the weekend looks uncertain, which promises to mix things up, and it’s a track which always generates an interesting grand prix.
"It’s the final race for the V8 engines so I really hope we can end the era on a positive note.
"In terms of points scored this has been my best season in Formula One, but it would be great to round off the year with a special result."
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Jim McGill