Gary Paffett fastest in Hockenheim pre-season test

Mercedes AMG driver Gary Paffett was fastest on the second day of the final official DTM pre-season tests, which are taking place at Hockenheim this week.

The Briton, driving his new Mercedes AMG C63 DTM, clocked a best time of 1:30.450 in the morning session. Audi driver Nico Müller, behind the wheel of the RS 5 DTM for the first time since the season finale, was second fastest, 0.372 seconds off the pace.

Tom Blomqvist completed the top three for BMW Motorsport, 0.389 seconds behind fellow countryman Paffett. Mike Rockenfeller, also returning to driving duties for the first time since October, was fourth, followed by last year’s runner-up and new arrival in the Mercedes camp, Edoardo Mortara.

Series returnee Maro Engel was sixth for Mercedes, 0.961 seconds off the pace, followed by René Rast. BMW drivers Maxime Martin and Timo Glock, who didn’t run in the afternoon, closed the day’s classification.

The DTM drivers and teams focussed on set-up work in the morning session, with the afternoon dedicated to race simulations and practice starts.

Testing continues tomorrow, with the official launch and final day of testing taking place on Thursday.