
In his third season of racing in DTM, back in 2005 when the series was a powerhouse touring car championship rather than 'just another' GT category, Gary Paffett chalked up five wins en route to his first title.
The winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1999, foreshadowing a lengthy association with the McLaren team, Paffett began his racing career in Germany with two campaigns in German Formula 3, winning the 2002 title while racing for Keke Rosberg's squad ahead of a move into Formula 3000 in 2003. But his career in the F1 feeder category lasted for just the Imola opener, prior to the Brand team he drove for withdrawing after a single round.