F1: Di Resta set for test date in Spain

Bathgate's Paul di Resta will drive last year's Force India VJM03 at the opening Formula One test at Valencia next month if, as expected, he is confirmed as one of the team's racing drivers for 2011.

While speculation continues to surround the future of the talented 24-year-old Scot, who shone as the team's test driver last season and dominated the DTM Championship with Mercedes, the Silverstone-based team has yet to confirm its two drivers for 2011.

Detailed discussions are continuing within the team. It's expected Di Resta will replace Italian Tonio Liuzzi in one of the Whyte & Mackay-backed race cars to forge a new partnership with German Adrian Sutil.

The team though has confirmed it will use its 2010 race car in the opening three day test in Spain from February 1-3 opting, along with Virgin Racing, to unveil its all-new racer — the VJM04 — at the second test at Jerez on February 10-13.

"We've carefully considered our plans for the start of the season and the introduction of the new Force India, the VJM04," Force India boss Otmar Szafnauer said.

"The team will participate in all four pre-season tests and we will use the VJM03 for the first test in Valencia before the VJM04 makes its test debut in Jerez the following week.

"Starting a test later with the new car gives us a couple of weeks more wind tunnel time when we are at our most productive and allows us to get the parts released for the new car.

"There is always a trade-off between running the car early and getting increased information for the aero department, and we believe it will work to our advantage, given our size and resources."