Di Resta storms to Brands Hatch win 12 | 08 | 2018

    BATHGATE’S PAUL DI RESTA won his second DTM race of the season after a blistering start to Sunday’s second race at Brands Hatch. The 32-year-old Scot — whose win follows his Brands victories in 2009 and 2010 — heads into the season’s final eight races just 29 points behind fellow Mercedes driver and championship leader Gary Paffett. (Related: Di Resta bags first DTM win of 2018)

    Di Resta, starting from second on the grid — 24 hours after a miserable opening race when he struggled to finish 16th, in a race won by Paffett — eased his way passed the Englishman around the outside at Paddock Hill Bend and Druids, before slipping up the inside at Graham Hill Bend.

    The Scot’s advantage was reduced when the safety car appeared following an incident involving the Audi of Robin Frijns, the Mercedes of Lucas Auer and Augusto Farfus's BMW.

    At the restart, Di Resta held the lead after the two-by-two formation restart, before Paffett made his mandatory pitstop on lap eight. Di Resta came in the following lap but rejoined ahead of Paffett.

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    The two Mercedes then led for the remainder of the race, with the Audi of Rene Rast finishing third, 1.376secs behind Di Resta.

    “It was a good start, and that was the key to winning here today,” the former champ, whose win was the 10th of his DTM career, said afterwards. “I had to nail the start, as it was the only way I was going to win today. Once I got ahead of Gary it was just a case of managing it to the end.

    “I had a very good first stint, and we nailed the race really. To win again on home soil is fantastic: last time I did that was just before I switched to F1 with Force India. Saturday was frustrating, but today we leave happy.

    “It’s a crucial time in of the championship. I’m 29 point behind Gary, but there’s four race weekends coming up in close succession, each with two races, so we need to maximise our performances at each of those.

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    “Winning at Brands Hatch is special, but winning any race in DTM is special, which is why they’re hard to come by. But if there’s any one you want to nail, it’s the one on home soil.

    “Yesterday was a bitter disappointment; it was the first race tis season I haven’t scored any points. But today I’ve got to credit my guys for the pitstop. And for my team to have its two drivers winning a race on each day, I’d say that’s a pretty good weekend.

    “Next time out we’re at Misano for the first night race, so hopefully my sportscar experience of racing at the Daytona 24-Hours and Le Mans will stand me in good stead.”

    Related: Di Resta in 135mph Le Mans crash

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    Jim McGill

     

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