Sahara Force India drivers set for Melbourne test

Mar 09, 2012 |

mumbai

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Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg are hoping to provide Sahara Force India a flying start in the 2012 F1 season-opening race at Melbourne next weekend and are pretty confident of improving as a team ahead of the longest ever (20-race) season.

While di Resta of Italian origin, would be racing for the Indian-owned franchise for the second year in running, Germany's Hulkenberg would be representing the team for the first time.

The German is also staging a comeback in the glamorous arena of first-choice drivers after cooling his heels as a reserve/test driver last year for Sahara Force India.

"Obviously it was in ups and downs. I think if I look back, it was a very positive for first season of F1. More results have been realistic when you are up against the best guys in the world. I have learnt from it," said di Resta, who would turn 26 next month, about his 2011 season.

"This year I am a lot more confident and comfortable and focused to achieve, and that's what is going to drive me to another level. In Sahara Force India we have targets and ambitions and the focus is to improve as a team," said the Scot, who finished 13th overall with 27 races in his debut season, ahead of the new series of races.

Hulkenberg, having got a chance to race again after his 14th-place finish (22 points) during his stint in 2010 with Williams, said since then he has got over the disappointment of not racing last year.

"Of course I was disappointed to lose my race seat at the end of 2010. The reason is that the performance (finished with 22 points from 14 races for Williams) was there...It was not bad, especially with the competition in the end, but I am over it and looking forward to 2012," said the 24-year-old German, at a media interaction today.

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