The Young Drivers: No.8 - Paul di Resta

Where were they then?

Paul di Resta was nominated as a finalist for the 2004 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award as an 18-year-old following his second season of Formula Renault, in which he'd finished third in standings behind champion Mike Conway and runner-up Westley Barber. He won four of the last eight races of the year, carried that momentum into the evaluation, and was named the 16th winner of the Award.

This is what Autosport magazine wrote about him at the time

Paul di Resta can have enjoyed few better weeks in his lifetime. Fresh from signing a Mercedes contract to step up to the Formula 3 Euro Series with Manor Motorsport next season, the Formula Renault UK front runner was unveiled as the 16th winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.

It's been quite a crescendo for di Resta, who at just 18 is the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious award. After missing out on challenging fellow finalist Mike Conway for the Formula Renault title after a smattering of ill luck early on in the season, he claimed his first win of the campaign at Knockhill in August. Since shedding the victory monkey from his back, di Resta hasn't looked back. Three more wins in the final six races left him third in the championship and he will be determined to carry that momentum into his competitive F3 debut in this week's Bahrain Superprix, despite having only three days in an F3 car under his belt compared to the years of experience enjoyed by many of his rivals.

Paul di Resta leads Sebastian Vettel in the 2006 F3 Euroseries © XPB

As well as form, di Resta doesn't lack of breeding. The latest contribution to world motorsport's ever-powerful contingent of great Scots, he has some useful advisors in his cousins - IRL IndyCar Series ace Dario Franchitti and his sportscar irregular brother, Marino.

Their experience and expertise was doubtless invaluable in preparing for the two-day evaluation test at Silverstone six weeks ago. But with the outside world shut out as the six hopefuls pounded around in Alan Docking Racing F3 machinery, as well as the less familiar surroundings of a factory AMG Mercedes C-Class DTM and one of West Surrey Racing's MG ZS machines, it all boiled down to that age-old classic racing challenge - man against machine in the most difficult of pressure-cooker environments.

Judging the sextet of hopefuls was as well-qualified a panel as you could hope to assemble. Former award winner and current British GT Championship front runner Andrew Kirkaldy, former grand prix racer Howden Ganley, veteran commentator Ian Titchmarsh, British Racing Drivers' Club secretary Roger Lane-Nott, and Autosport's Marcus Pye were charged with the unenviable task of selecting a winner from the cream of Britain's up and coming stars.

Speed was only part of the equation, with feedback, set-up work, presentation, and interview skills all essential - much as it is for any driver hoping to reach and succeed at the highest level of the sport. The often-saturated conditions made things even more challenging at Silverstone as the hopefuls leaped from car to car.

But come last Sunday night, it was all about di Resta, because in front of a room filled to the rafters with the great and the good of the motorsport world, he was added to a roll of honour that includes David Coulthard, Dario Franchitti, Jenson Button, and Gary Paffett. What's more, di Resta wins one of the best prizes in motorsport - a test drive in a McLaren Formula One car, as well as £50,000 towards next season's budget.

It isn't the first time that di Resta has graced the stage at the Autosport Awards. Prior to graduating to circuit racing last year, he marked his card with successes in the McLaren-backed Stars of the Future karting initiative. With Mercedes power currently being the propulsion of choice in F3 and a three-year contract with the German marque in his pocket, who would bet against di Resta becoming a fixture on the Autosport Awards podium in years to come while he secures his position in the pantheon of Scottish motor racing greats?

Where are they now?

"It's probably one of the biggest things that's ever happened in my life," says di Resta. "It made that year worthwhile, because we certainly didn't have an easy season - it didn't start well, but we had a good end to it! I'm not sure what would have happened without it, you can never tell. But all I can say is it certainly made things easier."

Following his victory in the Award, di Resta graduated to Formula 3 straight and chose to take on the European, rather than British championship. He had a decent rookie season, while Lewis Hamilton dominated the series up front. He filled the seat vacated by Hamilton at top team ASM for 2006 and went head-to-head with Red Bull and BMW protege Sebastian Vettel.

Paul di Resta in the HWA Mercedes-Benz in the 2008 DTM race in Barcelona © XPB

He came from behind to beat Vettel to the title, but there was no opening for him in either F1 or GP2. But he was, by now, a Mercedes junior driver and the manufacturer opened another door for him - a season in the DTM with a two-year old C-Class.

Di Resta was a sensation right from the start, finishing fifth on his debut and then scoring two second places in the next two races. Two more podiums followed later in the year and he finished fifth in the championship - an incredible achievement in a machine two years older than his rival front runners - and ahead of Mercedes stalwart Bernd Schneider.

That was enough to earn himself a ride in the front line HWA team, in a 2008-model Mercedes, this season. Wins at Lausitz and Barcelona, and four second places mean he goes into next weekend's season finale two points behind championship leader Timo Scheider, as Audi and Mercedes go head to head yet again.

He's also kept in touch with McLaren through his Mercedes ties and after receiving his F1 test with the team last year as part of his prize for winning the Award, he was recently invited back for four more days in the car. He also tried out for his former F3 team, ART (formerly ASM) Grand Prix, in GP2 testing having not yet given up on single-seaters and his desire to make it to Formula One to compete alongside old sparring partners Hamilton and Vettel.