Jerez, Dec 4 (IANS) Paul di Resta continued with his impressive showing in a Mercedes-powered Force India car by clocking the second fastest timing on the concluding day of the Formula One test session for rookie drivers.
The 23-year-old from Scotland clocked one minute, 18.336 seconds over 53 laps of the 4.337 kms Circuit de Jerez that put him second behind Red Bull-Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1:17.418) and ahead of Gary Paffett (McLaren-Mercedes), who took 1:18.746, here Friday.

Di Resta showed vast improvement after getting on track in the afternoon that saw spells of showers and his final day’s timing bettered his previous two best laps of 1;19.411 and 1:19.369.

The other Force India driver, 21-year old J.R. Hilderbrand of the United States, was the 10th quickest in the morning session that was red flagged due to rains and the 21-year old’s fastest lap was a 1:19.873 as against the 1:20.517 and 1:20.537 he clocked in his previous two outings.

Hilderbrand was able to complete 41 laps before a red flag and rain shower slowed progress, while Di Resta put in 53 laps.

Di Resta said: “It was a little interrupted this afternoon with one spin into the gravel and then an electrical issue that stopped us out on track so we lost some time in places. All the same the team ran through their programme and despite the stoppages we made progress and I think the team got some good results. I think I had a good time at the end and found some more performance so I’m happy on both accounts.”

Hilderbrand, whose session was marred by a red flag, said: “Today was a little frustrating because we again lost our quickest outings when the engine saving mode switched on and then when we tried to re-run the new tyre outing, the red flag came out when I was six tenths up on my fastest lap. That would have put us squarely in the thick of the front runners.”