Gary Paffett

Gary Paffett is a British former professional racing driver and motorsport leader best known for his success in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. A two-time DTM Champion and long-time Mercedes-AMG factory driver, Gary has competed at the highest level of global motorsport for over two decades. His greatest achievement came through winning the DTM Drivers’ Championship in 2005 and 2018, cementing his reputation as one of the most consistent and respected drivers in touring car racing. Today, Gary shares the lessons learned from elite motorsport with business audiences, speaking on leadership, teamwork and high-performance culture.

Gary progressed rapidly through the competitive UK karting circuit, finishing near the top of several national championships before securing victory in the British Junior TKM Championship. Moving into single-seater racing, Gary delivered a dominant season in Formula Vauxhall Junior, achieving multiple pole positions and race wins while setting impressive track records. His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, a landmark accolade that has previously launched the careers of many Formula One stars. Building on this momentum, Gary moved into Formula Three competition and went on to win the German Formula 3 Championship, demonstrating both technical skill and race-winning consistency at an early stage in his career.

Gary’s professional breakthrough came when he joined Mercedes-AMG Motorsport as a factory driver in the DTM Championship in 2003. Within just two seasons he had established himself as a championship contender, finishing runner-up before claiming the DTM Drivers’ Championship in 2005 with five race victories. Over a career spanning more than fifteen years in the series, Gary became one of the most successful drivers in DTM history, recording numerous wins, podium finishes and pole positions. His second DTM Drivers’ Championship title in 2018 marked a remarkable comeback and provided a fitting finale to Mercedes’ time in the series. Alongside his touring car success, Gary spent nearly a decade working at the pinnacle of motorsport as a Test and Development Driver for the McLaren Formula One Team, contributing to car development and performance during several competitive seasons. He later served as Simulator Driver for the Williams Formula One Team and competed in the Formula E Championship with HWA Racelab, further broadening his experience across multiple racing disciplines.

Following his driving career, Gary successfully transitioned into senior leadership roles within electric racing. He became Team Manager of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team, before taking on the same role with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team as the organisation entered the championship. Gary also served as Sporting Director of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, overseeing sporting performance and team operations. Most recently he was appointed Racing Director of the CUPRA KIRO Formula E Team, guiding strategy and performance within one of motorsport’s most innovative series. Gary’s stories from championship battles, Formula One development programmes and global racing teams offer audiences a unique perspective on how elite teams operate and sustain success.