Gary Paffett
A master of touring car racing who conquered Germany's DTM twice before steering Mercedes into the electric future of Formula E.
Born 1981 (age 45)·British racing driver·Birthday: March 24·Millennials
Biography
Gary Paffett carved his legacy not in the single-seater spotlight of Formula One, but in the doorhandle-to-doorhandle battleground of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). The British driver became synonymous with the German series, displaying a blend of technical precision and relentless racecraft over a remarkable fifteen-year campaign. His two championship titles, seized in 2005 and 2018, bookended an era of dominance and cemented his status as a DTM titan. While he served as a valued test driver for McLaren and Williams in F1, his true arena was DTM's fierce manufacturer wars. Paffett's career took a strategic turn as the automotive world shifted; he leveraged his deep institutional knowledge to help guide Mercedes-Benz's factory effort into the all-electric Formula E championship. Transitioning from driver to racing director, he applied his track wisdom to the complex strategic puzzles of electric racing, proving his expertise extended far beyond the cockpit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Gary was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gary Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Gary's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) championship twice, in 2005 and 2018.
- Competed in the DTM series for fifteen consecutive seasons, amassing 24 race victories.
- Served as the official test and reserve driver for the McLaren Formula One team during their 2007 and 2008 championship-winning campaigns.
- Transitioned to a management role as Racing Director for the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team following his driving retirement.
Did You Know?
He won the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1999.
His 2018 DTM title win was with Mercedes, coming in the manufacturer's final season before exiting the series.
He tested for the Williams F1 team in 2006 and was seriously considered for a race seat.
He is an accomplished sim racer and competed in the virtual 2020 Formula One Esports series.
“In DTM, you race hard every lap; it's pure, uncomplicated competition.”
