New Brit to test F1 car in Oz

Paul di Resta will drive for Force India during practice for this weekend's Australian Grand Prix.

The Scottish driver, who beat Red Bull ace Sebastien Vettel to the Euro F3 crown early in his career, will replace the team's regular race driver Adrian Sutil for the first free practice session on Friday.

Di Resta, cousin of IRL champion Dario Franchitti, will take part in several test sessions during grand prix weekends this year, and said he hopes he will be able to do enough to earn a race seat in 2011.

"Hopefully I can show the team that I am capable of being in a race car at some point in the near future," he said.

"This year is about trying to gain the experience on the tracks so if a race drive should come up, then I am in the scenario without thinking of it too much.

Di Resta has raced in the DTM touring car series for the past three years, and believes that experience has given him the maturity and experience to cope with the pressures of F1.

"I have been involved in a factory-run team, where development is the key – building new cars, going forward and working to deadlines," he said. "I went into DTM when I was 19 and had to learn pretty fast but it has all been positive.

"Each year I go on, I say, 'was I ready for F1 back then?' Well, now I am – and you grow with maturity. Mercedes-Benz has been a key factor in achieving that out of me, and helping me deal with it in the best possible way."

Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Mercedes reviews, news and video