Paffett & di Resta run well in F1 test

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters regulars Gary Paffett and Paul di Resta switched to single seater racing yesterday, as they took time out to participate in a Formula 1 test at Jerez.

The young driver test saw di Resta take the wheel of the Force India for 46-laps during the afternoon, whilst Paffett ran for 56-laps in the McLaren taking time to test aerodynamic setups, as well as tyre wear.

Of the DTM pair, di Resta claimed the honours with the second fastest time of the twelve runners. The young Scot set a personal best time of 1:19.369, which was just over two-tenths slower than the fastest man of the day, reigning FIA Formula Two Champion Andy Soucek.

Speaking of his first experience of the Force India, di Resta said “Today was very constructive and we achieved what we wanted to achieve, which was to get familiar with the car and build up to speed slowly to fully prepare for the rest of the test”.

Paffett, who was the official Formula 1 test driver for McLaren Mercedes during the 2006 season, set the third fastest time of the day with a lap time of 1:19.426, a mere 0.057s off di Resta’s time.

The young driver test continues today.