Paul di Resta races into pole with whisky honour

Published on Wednesday 7 July 2010 14:09

RACING legends Jim Clark and Sir Jackie Stewart may have won world championships, but Scotland's newest Formula One driver has achieved a notable first not even these great sportsmen could match.

• Paul Di Resta, the cousin of Dario Franchitti and the only Scottish F1 driver, has had a bespoke whisky created for him. Picture SNS

For Paul di Resta, currently Scotland's only representative on the F1 circuit, will today launch his very own global whisky brand.

The West Lothian driver, a cousin of Scottish Indycar legend Dario Franchitti, will have his Whyte & Mackay Di Resta blend sold in shops across the world, and will also sport the brand on his racing kit. His UK-based Force India F1 team is already sponsored by the Scottish whisky giant.

But the 23-year-old from Bathgate has been identified as a global star of the future by the drinks company, which is keen to promote him as a new and youthful figurehead for whisky.

Di Resta met with the firm's master blender, Richard Paterson, in February to create the new blend, which is based on the driver's own personality - although as a professional F1 driver, he rarely drinks anything stronger than water.

Bosses at the whisky firm, which has created personalised whiskies for US president Barack Obama and Scottish film legend Sir Sean Connery, believe today's launch will be the first time an F1 driver has had his own whisky label. A company source added: "Award-wining master blender Richard Paterson has created a bespoke whisky for Force India driver Paul di Resta

"Richard has created many bespoke blends based on peoples' personalities. The blend is a union of Highland, Speyside and grain whiskies, representing his great strength, charm and raw Scottish talent. On the nose, this whisky is a little shy at first but then gives way to a full-bodied explosion - reflecting Paul's initial shyness when he first meets people.

"Paul has to prove himself on the circuit and step out of his cousin Dario's shadow so, like him, his bespoke whisky is destined to make its own mark and is a born winner."

F1 legend Clark did have a malt whisky named after him, although it wasn't widely available - and he was reported to dislike the product.

Blender Mr Paterson said he had invited Di Resta to his historic blending room at Whyte & Mackay's Glasgow HQ to put his own mark on the whisky.

He added: "Force India recently signed up a Scotsman, Paul di Resta, as part of the team, so we had Paul drop by the W&M HQ in Glasgow.

"Being the Scot on the F1 tour, lots of people ask him what they should be drinking and how they should be drinking it.

"So it seemed only fitting that I should tell him a few things and point out the grand prix whiskies - and then have some fun with an F1 car myself."

F1 dreams

PAUL di Resta grew up racing go-karts with young hopefuls Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton and says he now wants to follow in the footsteps of his friends by becoming world champion.

The Bathgate-raised sportsman was crowned the British karting champion in 2001, won the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award in 2004 and claimed second position in the DTM touring car championships in 2008.

He has also worked with McLaren testing cars in the past before a three-day audition with Silverstone-based Force India last year, leading to him becoming part of their team in February as test and reserve driver.

He now aims to emulate the success of Scots F1 legends Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart - and his US Indycar champion cousin Dario Franchitti.

He said: "Since those early days when I was karting at places like Larkhall, I've dreamed of being a Formula One driver."