di Resta keen on taking the fight to McLaren - MotorSportsTalk

Paul di Resta is confident that Force India can take the fight to McLaren in the second half of the season as the two teams scrap over fifth place in the championship heading to Belgium this weekend.

Force India have enjoyed their best-ever start to a Formula One season, consistently scoring in the first ten races to lead McLaren by two points. However, they did enjoy a bigger lead heading to the German Grand Prix at the beginning of July, but the changes made to the Pirelli tires appear to have stunted their progress. For di Resta, this could explain the change in fortunes.

“It’s the only thing that’s changed and the only thing we can point the finger at,” the Scottish driver explained. “The tire has changed, yes, and obviously key to Hungary was making sure they worked and we didn’t optimize that, but we optimized it before that, and that is why I believe there is no reason why the car can’t get it working again.

To make matters worse, di Resta believes that the changes have suited McLaren. The British team has performed below expectations this year having only finished a season-best of P5 which – for a team that came a comfortable third in last year’s championship – is highly disappointing. di Resta acknowledged their prowess, but he is sure that Force India can continue to fight for fifth in the constructors’ without easily succumbing to their rivals.

“You have to have the respect for McLaren and what they are, their car has transformed since changing to the other construction of the tire, but equally when our car is working well we can be in front of them I think, and that purely depends on how we get our grips to where we are and if we can solve the issues that have been hampering us over the last couple of grands prix, but having said that it can very quickly switch the other way.

“We’ll be working hard to try and do it we won’t give the position easy but they are a team that won this race last year as well. We’re gonna have to be working at the top of our game to stay where we are and that is still the goal coming into the second half of the year, to stay in front of them.”

Spa-Francorchamps is a track that has traditionally suited Force India with Giancarlo Fisichella claiming the team’s only pole position at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix before going on to finish second, which remains the team’s best-ever result.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was named to replace Conor Daly in Ed Carpenter Racing’s No. 20 Dallara-Chevrolet, starting in the NTT IndyCar Series event next week at Road America.

Hunter-Reay is the 2012 series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner. He finished 11th for Dreyer & Reinbold last month in the 107th Indy 500, his first start since the 2021 season finale. He drove full time for Andretti Autosport from 2010-21.

“We need to improve our competitiveness and I wanted to add a fresh perspective from a driver like Ryan who has a massive amount of experience and success as well as a reputation as a team leader. I am excited to welcome Ryan to the team,” team owner Ed Carpenter said in a team release. “We have worked together in the past as teammates and he tested for ECR at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2021, where he made an immediate impact as we were able to qualify one of our cars on the pole following that test. I am confident that his experience and technical abilities will be an asset to ECR as we move forward toward our goals as a team.”

Hunter-Reay has 18 IndyCar victories, most recently in 2018. He also is a winner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, having been a part of winning entries in the 2020 Twelve Hours of Sebring and 2018 Petit Le Mans. Last year, he was an endurance driver for Cadillac Racing while being on standby for Chip Ganassi Racing.

He replaces Daly, whose departure was announced a day earlier in what the driver and team said was a mutual decision.

“I was surprised when I got the call from Ed,” Hunter-Reay said in a team release. “He described how frustrated he was that his team has not been able to realize its potential despite their efforts, investments, as well as technical and personnel changes over the past few years and asked for my help. Ed and I are very close friends and have been for a long time. I’ve worked with the team in the past and they are a very talented group with high expectations and a committed partner in BITNILE.COM.

“This will certainly be a challenge for me as well. It’s a tough situation jumping in a car in the middle of the season without any testing in what I believe to be the most competitive series in the world. Certainly, part of my motivation in saying ‘yes’ to Ed is the great challenge ahead. The last time I turned right driving an NTT IndyCar Series car was in October of 2021 with this team at Barber. However, I remain very confident in both my driving and technical abilities and believe by working with the talented people at ECR and Team Chevy, while representing BITNILE.COM, we will make progress. I am going to do everything I can do to help the team achieve its long-term objectives.”

Said Milton “Todd” Ault, the chairman of sponsor BitNile.com: “It is great for BitNile.com to be aligned with an Indy 500 Winner and an NTT IndyCar Series champion. I have followed Ryan’s career for years and I am confident he will challenge the entire ECR team to perform at higher levels. I wish everyone luck at Road America.”