Gary Paffett and the DTM paddock head to Hockenheim for the second time this year to contest the 2017 season finale this weekend.
Returning to the 4.754-km Hockenheimring, the track will once again play host to the DTM as the series returns five months on since the opening round of the season in May. A favourite amongst the fans, Hockenheim always provides spectacular racing as the track offers numerous overtaking opportunities with a high chance of crashes and safety cars.
This weekend sees added entertainment for the German crowds as fans at Hockenheim can look forward to a visit from Japanese manufacturers Nismo and Lexus, who will complete a number of demonstration laps with their cars.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Gary will be hoping to build on his illustrious record at the circuit. In his thirty-one races at the Hockenheimring, Gary has made ten trips to the podium and as the victor on four of these occasions.
This season’s previous round at the Hockenheimring saw Gary pick up his first, and only, podium finish of the season as he produced an exhilarating performance to finish as runner-up in the weekend’s second race. Twelve points finishes in sixteen races has lifted Gary to 88 points as he currently occupies 11th in the Drivers’ Championship.
Although Gary is out of the championship race, he is still motivated for the fight and wants to end the season on a positive note.
“Obviously, I’m not in a position to fight for the championship, but I will certainly be going there looking to end the season with a good result. To score some decent points, get on the podium and maybe even a race win to finish the season – that’s certainly the aim. I think we have a competitive car. Spielberg was a tough weekend, and I don’t think the circuit suited our car, but Hockenheim will be a lot better. We had a very good start to the year there, so now I’m looking to end the season on a high.”
Ulrich Fritz, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport DTM, is looking forward to an exciting conclusion to the season.
“I think the fans have witnessed one of the most exciting and spectacular DTM seasons ever staged. Mattias pulled out a big lead at Spielberg, of course, but we now go to Hockenheim with six drivers having a mathematical chance of taking the title. That’s one in three of the field. It’s just an incredible situation! Realistically, though, we have only an outside chance with Lucas, but that’s no reason for us to give up. Hockenheim is a track that actually suits us far better than Spielberg. Consequently, we’re hoping that the races go differently for us than they did in Austria. We need to get the maximum out of our package and exploit every opportunity that comes our way. Then, with a bit of luck, anything is possible.”