Newly-crowned two-time DTM champion Gary Paffett has described winning the 2018 drivers' title, 13-years after his previous championship winning success, as 'the best day of his🅰 life'.

The 37-year old took third position during today's [Sunday] second race to wi🌼n the title by just four-points ahead of outgoing champion Rene Rast, who won th🃏e season finale for Audi.

Paffett arrived into the final weekend of the sea☂son trailing his Mercedes team mate Paul di Resta by four-points, but heavily outscored the former F1-driver by 26-points over the course of the finale.

Di Resta ultimately slipped to third in t൲he drivers' table behind 💫the Audi of Rast, who won both of the weekend's races.

“It's absolutely incredible. This is the best day in my life. The first title in 🌼2005 came 🔴along so soon," said Paffett.

"I’ve spent the last 13 years working to get back to๊ the top. It’s taken a long time, but this year, the team gave me a great car. I've always enjoyed driving it in qualifying. I still can’t quite believe it.

"I was out there on my own for most🔯 of the race and had plenty of time to think about the situation. Towards the end, I was thinking to myself ‘Now there are only five laps to go in my DTM career’ and then ‘oꩵnly 4, 3, 2, 1...’.

"At one point, I almost spun off because of that. But it♑'s a fantastic feeling to have won the title."

Paffett's second title in the series ensured Mercedes would enjoy a fitting end to their 30-year tenure in the championship as the German manufacturer prepares for its upcoming factory Formul𒁃a E entry in the 2019/20 season.

The British driver's championship win was also his last act in the DTM after 185 races in the series. Paffett is also moving to the Formula E championship for the 2🐎018/19 season as part of his current HWA squad's driver line up.

"I’ve had such a great time with this team. Man🌜y thanks to every single member of t𒁏he team for all the hard work they've put into the car. Anyway, we’ve done it now!”