Paul di Resta
Paul di Resta
RACING IN: ELMS - LMP2 /Asian LMS /IMSA
Biography
Paul di Resta is a British racing driver, former F1 driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans champion who is contesting the WeatherTech IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series with United Autosports.
Key Stats
Nationality
British
Hometown
Uphall, Scotland
DOB
16th April
Favourite circuit
Suzuka
Racing career
Paul’s first introduction to motorsport was through his father, Louis, who raced in Formula Ford 1600 through the late eighties and early nineties. When Paul was eight years old, he started racing himself - going onto win the British JICA Championship seven years later in 2001.
From karting, di Resta moved into Formula 3, winning the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2006. The following year, he expanded his racing career to touring cars in the DTM, racing for Mercedes. In 2010, he won the prestigious DTM championship with three wins, seven podiums, four pole positions and a fastest lap over 11 races.
In 2008, Paul made his first move into Formula 1, testing for McLaren Mercedes at Silverstone. In 2010, he was announced as the test and reserve driver for Force India. He drove in the practice sessions of numerous Grand Prix weekends including Australia, Germany, Malaysia and Hungary – going on to secure a seat and race for the Force India over three consecutive F1 seasons (2011-2013), teaming up with Nico Hulkenberg in 2012.
Over the next few years, Paul was a Formula 1 test driver for Williams (2016-17) and McLaren (2020-22), alongside a return to the DTM series (2014-19), where he finished third in the 2018 DTM Driver’s Championship.
In 2018, Paul di Resta made his prototype endurance racing debut with United Autosports, racing in the 2018 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. He has raced with the team every year since – and with great success, winning the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans, 2018-19 Asian Le Mans Series and the 2020 FIA World Endurance Championship.
In 2024, Paul is looking to add even more achievements to the list, as he contests the WeatherTech IMSA SportsCar Championship and European Le Mans Series’ with United Autosports - alongside his full-season WEC commitments with Peugeot Sport.
Paul was an integral part of the team during our fantastic 2020 season so to have him back racing with us is brilliant.
ZAK BROWN
Career Highlights
// Signed to Peugeot Total Energies for the 2022 and 2023 World Endurance Championship
// Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020 with United Autosports
// Won the 2010 DTM Championship with the Mercedes Benz / HWA Team
24 hours of le mans
Paul di Resta has raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times with United Autosports – winning the blue riband event in 2020 with co-drivers Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson [read the race report]. Di Resta qualified for the team in the Hyperpole session, securing pole position and setting a new LMP2 lap record around Circuit de la Sarthe. Since 2022, Paul has raced at Le Mans in the Hypercar class with Peugeot Sport.
Continuing the partnership, alongside my WEC duties, with United Autosports is an easy decision - it keeps me sharp, working to suceed as much as we can.
pAUL DI RESTA
FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Paul’s victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was part of his 2019-2020 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign with United Autosports. Racing alongside Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson, the team finished the season with victory in the overall LMP2 championship with four wins, six podiums and four pole positions over seven races. In 2022, di Resta contested one WEC race with United Autosports, standing in for Alex Lynn at the 1000 Miles of Sebring alongside record-breaking teenager Josh Pierson and Olly Jarvis – the trio going onto win the race and celebrate on the top step of the podium [read the race report]. In 2024, Paul di Resta is racing in WEC with Peugeot for his third consecutive season.
personal life
Paul lives in Monaco with his wife, Laura, and their two children. On top of his own racing commitments, he’s become a familiar face on TV as a sports pundit – and when he’s not working, he enjoys keeping fit.
