Force India appoint Di Resta as reserve driver

Posted at 12:00am on 02 February 2010

LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Dario Franchitti's 23-year-old cousin Paul di Resta will be Force India's test and reserve driver this season, the Formula One team announced on Tuesday.

Force India said in a statement Di Resta would attend all the races and, with testing banned during the season, was expected to take part in some Friday practice sessions at grand prix weekends.

"I see this move as taking me one step closer to achieving my dream of racing in F1 but I know I have a lot to learn in terms of the car and the tracks right now," said Di Resta, whose cousin is champion of the U.S. IndyCar series and a former Indy 500 winner.

"I think this programme is a perfect way to prepare fully and be ready to go if and when the chance of a race seat comes. I hope this will be the start of a long-term future with Force India."

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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