Formula One news
Paffett confirms DTM drive
26 March 2007The 2005 DTM champion and McLaren test driver Gary Paffett will return to the DTM after a one-year break. The 25-year-old Englishman, who has been a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes test driver in Formula One for more than a year, will drive the Persson team's 2006 AMG-Mercedes C-Class. The 2007 DTM incorporates ten races and will start at Hockenheim on 22 April.
The highlight in Gary Paffett's DTM career to date was the title triumph in 2005. In December 2006 the possibility of Gary's DTM comeback first arose. However, at that time the four HWA factory cars had been already allocated to DTM record champion Bernd Schneider (42), double Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen (38), 2006 DTM runner-up Bruno Spengler (23) and Jamie Green (24), 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series Champion.
In the 30 DTM races he contested so far, Gary Paffett, who has enjoyed a long-term relationship with Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, secured a total of nine wins. He was promoted by the Champions of the Future kart racing programme for young talents, which had been launched by McLaren and Mercedes-Benz. In 1999, he won the "Young Driver of the Year" award, which had been established by McLaren, Autosport magazine and the British Racing Driver Club (BRDC).
Paffett said: "It's great to be back racing with Mercedes-Benz in DTM, a championship where I have always performed well. I am fully motivated to achieve the best possible results this season. I am also continuing my test driving role for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes where I will be contributing towards the best technical package for the World Championship campaigns of both Fernando [Alonso] and Lewis [Hamilton]."
His DTM involvement, he says, will not detract from his intention to drive in Formula One and he maintains that this is the goal for 2008.
"I remain committed to finding a full time Formula One drive in the future. Every drivers dream is to be a race driver in Formula 1 and I am no different. I will be doing my best to make that dream happen for 2008. Meanwhile I am fully focused on the beginning of the DTM season which is my immediate priority as a professional racing driver," he added.
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport boss Norbert Haug said: "Gary Paffett wanted to race again in the DTM and of course we have been enthusiastic about this idea. Apart from this, it will remain Gary's target to become a Formula One race driver. At Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, he will have the opportunity to build up his reputation. Gary is the 2005 DTM Champion and within motor racing he is considered a competent and capable Formula One driver who has moved up from the DTM. To have him in our driver line-up is an upgrade for our team and the entire DTM."
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