GARY PAFFETT finished 12th during the latest round of the DTM championship at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit.

The Bromley-born Laureus AMG Mercedes driver suffered a first lap tangle with Frenchman Alexandre Premat, to hinder his hopes of success, in front of a 100,000 plus crowd.

Two rounds remain of the series and Paffett, the 2005 champion, hopes to improve for the penultimate round in Barcelona on September 23rd. He currently sits eight in the championship.

“I had a poor start and then I suffered from understeer later on,” he said. “Our team worked really hard all weekend, but we have to increase our efforts to significantly improve the car’s handling until the next race.”