Paul Di Resta heads into this weekend's British Grand Prix believing Silverstone owes him a result as he attempts to make it third time lucky.
Di Resta has had little cause to celebrate on home soil over the past two years as fortune has deserted him, but returns with hopes high and confidence soaring given his form this season.
The Scot's one moment of great pride at the Northamptonshire venue came in his debut campaign of 2011 when he qualified an astonishing sixth, to the delight of the fans, a place behind Jenson Button. But his form and luck ran out on race day, initially via a pit-stop gaffe from the team who were waiting to receive Force India team-mate Adrian Sutil, resulting in a costly delay while the mechanics hustled to swap to the correct tyres.
The 25 seconds lost dropped Di Resta back into the pack where, just a couple of laps later, he damaged his front wing in a tangle with then Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi, eventually finishing a lowly 15th.
Fast forward a year and Di Resta suffered the nadir of his F1 career, retiring after two laps with damage to the floor of the car sustained in a spin on lap one with a puncture caused by minor contact with the Lotus driver Romain Grosjean.
It is clearly with good reason Di Resta claims what happened last year "still hurts", believing now it is time the gods smiled on him in front of his own fans.
"It [the incident with Grosjean] was lap one, and by lap six I recall sitting in the hospitality with the family watching the race, which was so disappointing," said Di Resta. "So hopefully it will be third time lucky for me this weekend and we will get a result. I remember I had a great qualifying there two years ago. Looking back on all my qualifying laps that one in 2011, to get sixth on the grid, would definitely be in my top three.
"I'd be very happy if I started there again at this British Grand Prix. I'm certainly going there with high hopes we can achieve what we have done in the races so far this season."
Di Resta is certainly one of the in-form drivers this campaign as he has finished in the points in six of the seven races so far.
That is despite being undermined by his team during qualifying in Monaco and Canada where mistakes were made, relegating him to 17th on the grid.
Di Resta made his feelings clear on both occasions, but at least kept his composure in the races to produce sensational drives, finishing ninth around the streets of the principality and seventh in Montreal.
To ensure he stays cool, calm and collected this weekend, Di Resta will again surround himself with those closest to him on one of the campsites as he revels in the special vibe created.
"Having the family and friends there, with their support, staying on the campsite, feeling the atmosphere build up, is great," said Di Resta. "This race is the highest attended we go to, and it's special to be a part of that as one of the Brits, seeing the support you get.
"It would be nice to add to that and give those around me something to smile about and to celebrate on Sunday night. This year is certainly a big one, and given our form, we're setting ourselves up to achieve more than we have done in the past."
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