DTM – Gary Paffett satisfied but frustrated

Say that Gary Paffett had a rough Sunday is an understatement. Initially qualified in 8^e position, the pilot Mercedes was disqualified for a problem with the set of tires used in free practice. On a track like Zandvoort where qualifying really counts, Paffet did not expect to get back into the points.

« It was a great race starting 17^e on the grid, comments the champion DTM 2005. We didn't expect much after the disqualification, but we had a great strategy. I made my effort when needed and did my best to get past Augusto [Farfus]. I passed him well on the outside of the first turn to give myself 6^e place, which is extra."

However, his recovery was forced by the two Audis of Mattias Ekström and Nico Müller to protect the championship leader in a maneuver that Paffet considered unsporting.

« At the end of the race, the two Audis of Ekström and Müller were in difficulty and Müller completely blocked me so that I did not pass Eki. I passed him on the outside of T1 and Eki surprised me by jumping on the brakes coming out of the corner, and he did it again in the second corner to pass Nico [Müller] again. It's not fair and I'm disappointed by this maneuver."

Find the full report of the Zandvoort weekend in DTM, in AUTO issue 2128hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.