Gary Paffett admitted he was happy with second on the grid for the fourth round of the DTM at Zandvoort, despite an error in the final stage of qualifying costing him a chance of pole.

The Mercedes driver battled changing conditions to make it through to the final stage of qualifying before a slight error in the one-lap shootout saw him lose out to fellow Briton Oliver Jarvis in the battle for pole.

However the former champion admitted he was still well placed for race day, with a slot on the front-row of the grid being crucial at the challenging Dutch circuit.

“In today's changeable conditions it was difficult to judge how fast I could go and then I made a small mistake in the single-lap qualifying, otherwise a better time would have been possible,” he said. “I am happy with second place on the grid. Of course, I would prefer to be on pole but on this twisty track it is important to start from the front row. Tomorrow everything is possible.”

Bruno Spengler also made it through to the final stage of qualifying and will line up behind Paffett on the grid in third place.

“I am quite satisfied with third place and the second row on the grid,” he said. “A better time was possible; however, at the penultimate corner of the single-lap qualifying I hit a dirty spot, my wheels locked and I slid off the racing line for a moment. It will be a tough and long race tomorrow; everything can happen.”