Di Resta joins United Autosports for Sebring, Watkins Glen

Paul di Resta will enjoy an expanded sports car racing programme through 2018 with United Autosports after joining the team's line-up for the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship events at Sebring and Watkins Glen.

Former Force India and Williams Formula 1 driver di Resta was part of United Autosports' all-star line-up for the Rolex 24 at Daytona last month, finishing the race fourth overall alongside Bruno Senna, Will Owen and Hugo de Sadeleer in his sports car racing debut.

United Autosports confirmed on Thursday that di Resta would be joining its line-up for the 12 Hours of Sebring and 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, teaming up with Senna and youngster Phil Hanson.

"I’m massively excited to be taking on some more races in IMSA. After the success we had in Daytona and what could have been, I’ve really got the bug for doing more and why not be part of it with United Autosports where it all started," di Resta said.

"It’s a new task for the team racing out in America and there’s lots going on, but being part of that back in the car alongside Bruno and Phil is great. There’s plenty of work to do and I’m looking forward to undertaking these two races and seeing what it leads to.

"Hopefully we can have a great result and the team can work together to get the best out of it."

Di Resta will focus mainly on racing in DTM for Mercedes through 2018 despite having been in contention for a Williams F1 drive, revealing to Crash.net last month that he was within "touching distance" of a full-time grand prix return.

United Autosports confirmed shortly after Daytona it would be entering one car to the remaining three North American Endurance Cup rounds of the 2018 IMSA season, comprising Sebring, Watkins Glen and Petit Le Mans.

The team confirmed in the announcement that its original plan to enter Senna and Hanson to all four NAEC races will now be revised due to the clash on October 14 between Petit Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship event at Fuji, ruling Senna out of action.