Aston Martin h♉as signed ex-Formula 1 driver Paul di Resta to l🌞ead its assault on the DTM for the 2019 season. 

The 2010 DTM champion makes the switch from the Mercedes-HWA squad following the German manufacturer’s withdrawa💃l from the championship at the end of last year. 

Aston Martin joins the 🎀series in 🧸partnership with R-Motorsport and HWA, making di Resta a prime candidate for a 2019 seat. 

The 32-year-old Scot, who contested 59 grands prix for💞 Force India and Williams in F1♌ between 2011 and 2017, said he took little convincing to join Aston Martin’s latest project. 

“To be perfectly honest, I🌜 was convinced from my very first meeting with Florian [Kamelger, R-Motorsport team principal] and Andreas [Baenziger],” he explained. 

“We had a 20-minute chat ov💟er a cup of coffee in the paddock last year, and I was immediately convinced of their ambition and passion for this 🌺project.

“It’s wo✃rth remembering that I’ve also worked with HWA since my Formula 3 days, and I strongly believe they’re the stand-out organisation in every series they contest. 

“They were one of the big reasons b🌜ehind Mercedes’ DTM success, and I’ve got absolute trust and belief t൲hat R-Motorsport can do the job.

“After Mercedes’ withdrawal last year, R-Motorsport’s Aston Martin announcement really lifted ꦿeveryone’s spirits - everyone’s so eager to be part of this, and, believe me, they mean serious business. The whole organisation is totally professional and 100 per cent focused. I think we can do this.”

di 𝓰Resta, who took three wins en route to finishing third in the 2018 standings, acknowledged the task wil💯l not be easy but he is confident Aston Martin can be challenging for race wins from the off. 

“It won’t be an easy task: we’re a relatively small outfit up against two of the b🉐est manufacturers in the world, but they need me to help the development of the project,” he added. 

"I know what I can bring to this, and I believe this is going to be good. Yes, we’re late to the party, but with a good pre-season, we can get on tไop of things. 

“I expect us to be there at the first race challenging for the win. I believe that’s a realistic target, and I thi🎐nk we have to go into the first race with that mentality.”

The ꦛ2019 DTM season begins at the Hockenheimring in Germany on May 4.