Paffett set for DTM return
Former DTM champion Gary Paffett is set to make a return to the series next year, this week's Autosport reports
Speculation of the switch began when Paffett opted against signing a third driver contract with Honda recently, and he appears to be set to return to the DTM with Mercedes if he stays at McLaren.
"I will still be testing for McLaren, but I will have room for something else," said Paffett. "Racing in the DTM would be the automatic choice."
Mercedes have three drivers confirmed for their top DTM team next year, but Mika Hakkinen is yet to re-sign for the fourth and final seat.
"There are a lot of drivers going for those seats but obviously my aim would be to take back my title from Mr Schneider," said Paffett.
Paffett's testing mileage at McLaren will be limited next year due to rule changes in Formula One, but by staying at the team he could be in line for a race seat in 2008 in either a McLaren 'B' team or a team supplied with Mercedes engines.
His managers Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell are keen to get Paffett racing in 2007.
Brundle said: "Gary is a natural-born racer and to have kept him in a test role for another season wouldn't have been the best thing for him.
"The amount of mileage he'd have been able to do next season as an F1 test driver would have been so limited that he's better off in a race seat elsewhere."
Paffett spent three seasons racing in the DTM with Mercedes, and took the title in 2005.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Friday favourite: The seaside circuit that a double DTM champion made his own
How two driver-turned-managers are tackling Formula E's challenges
Gary Paffett: 100 not out
The plot twist that gave Arrow McLaren’s Ward his first IndyCar win as team principal
Formula E’s new Gen3 Evo car breaks cover
The weekly reality check that has kept MotoGP hype off of Acosta so far in 2024
F2 veteran Ghiotto to make IndyCar debut with Dale Coyne Racing at Barber
Autosport writers' most memorable moments of 2022
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
The longest-serving Red Bull driver revealing F1’s true brutality
How the DTM has come back stronger from its Norisring nadir
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments