Mercedes 'to Run Heavy all Season'

Under new rules for 2005, the top manufacturer in DTM has to add an extra 10kg of success ballast in the next meeting, up to a maximum of 20kg. The second placed manufacturer's weight remains the same, but the third placed manufacturer is allowed to remove 10kg.

Mercedes was the top manufacturer for the second race running at last weekend's race at Lausitz, and will carry 20kg of ballast at the next round at Spa on May 15.

But Paffett believes that this year's Mercedes is so competitive that the German squad will not get the opportunity to remove any of that weight.

Paffett told Autosport-Atlas: "We could end up having to carry 20kg for the rest of the season. Look at the performance last weekend. Mercedes still had six cars in the superpole with 10kg of extra weight. 

"The pace of the car has been encouraging and I do not expect to be especially slow at Spa even with 20kg. We'll be fighting at the front all season."