Mercedes DTM Series driver Gary Paffett has thrown his support behind any potential Aston Martin involvement in the series.
Aston Martin has been linked to a four-car entry through R-Motorsport with backing from Red Bull for 2020, with these plans seeming to move forward when HWA set up a joint venture with R-Motorsport’s parent company AF Racing.
HWA, currently operates Mercedes’ DTM programme but will cease to do so when the manufacturer withdraws from the DTM at the end of the year.
If Aston Martin were join the series, HWA would build the car while the team would be run by Arden.
Garry Horner, father of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing‘s Team Principal Christian Horner, is the CEO of Arden with the team having a long history of running Red Bull Junior Team members in various categories.
“That’s the rumours, and I hope that does happen,” Paffett told Motorsport.com. “We want the DTM to not just continue but to thrive and get bigger and better and get back to the really good old days.
“It’s got a great platform to start from, I think any manufacturer coming in will look at it and see there’s a fairly level playing field straight from the off. It’s certainly an exciting prospect.
“There’s been a few rumours of lots of people coming in in the past so hopefully they can get a bit further and actually get on the grid.”
Paffett’s brand-mate Paul di Resta has spent all bar one of his years in the DTM with HWA and believes it would make sense for an incoming brand to utilise them for their expertise.
“I think the biggest thing is HWA do such a good job, and for anybody who knows how HWA work they’re independent and they run for the Mercedes-Benz brand,” said di Resta to Motorsport.com.
“All that resource is there, they’re a good team and got all that logistics so I understand it would make sense for another manufacturer exactly to pick up where Mercedes have left off and where things are at the moment.
“I think it would be a good option for someone.
“I hope they do, because more crucially – it’s where my professional career started – DTM is such a key part for the driver market to keep all the young guys coming through, and keep us all happy doing the job we love doing.”
Until then, Mercedes still have five more rounds remaining in the DTM with the first of which taking place this weekend (11-12 August) at Brands Hatch.
