DTM title contender Paul di Resta remains defiant despite losing the championship lead to his Mercedes⭕ team mate Gary Paffett, following a difficult opening race at Hockenheim.

Di Resta saw his already slender four-point championship lead completely♛ wiped out over the course of Saturday after qualifying and finishing behind Paffett in eighth during the ope♉ning race.

As a result, Di Resta now goes into the final race of the year six-points behind Paffett in second as the two team mates prepare to battle it ou♎t for the drivers' tit💎le during what will be Mercedes' last race in the DTM.

Along with having to contend with Paffett, Di R🦹esta also has reigning champion Rene Rast in close company after the Audi driver took his fifth straight win to set up a three-way title fight on finals day.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t my day today. P6 on the grid was not ideal, especially with Gary and René s🌸tarting in front of me," said Di Resta.

"What’s more, Gary was able to halve my small lead w💎ith the two points gained in qualifying. In the race itself🌳, there was then a lot of action, battling for position and the safety car.

"At first, it didn’ t look so bad, but ultimately, eighth place is a disappointing result for me. Now I have to give it everything I’ve got in the second qualifying session tomorrow to start from the front and try to make up the six points on🍌 Gary.

"Nothꦬing is lost yet. It will certainly be an exciting final ra🦩ce.”