CHAMPION Andy Priaulx enjoyed a brilliant meeting in Spain to move to second in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. The BMW Team UK driver exceeded his goal of closing the gap to the top of the 2007 drivers’ table by taking two points finishes and is on equal points with standings leader and fellow BMW 320si driver Jorg Muller.
The Guernseyman finished fifth and third in two hugely contrasting two races at the Valencia track and was very happy with his day’s work.
‘I’m absolutely delighted - it’s much better than I hoped for,’ he said.
‘The car was great. The team has been fantastic. We’ve improved the balance and general grip of the car and have worked really well together. I think a sign of a true team is one that can turn things round.
‘I’m delighted with the results - especially the podium. It’s rewarding to qualify well and finish with good points with a heavy car and I feel back on form which is a good feeling.’
Priaulx emphasised it was early in the season and that his focus is on the championship and, therefore, consistent point-scoring is vital.
‘Every driver loves to win [a race] but at this stage it’s the championship that’s important.
‘It’s going to be tough because the weight with the success ballast will be hard so I’m thinking about staying at the top of the table and when the time’s right the wins will come.’
Success brings a weight handicap so Priaulx had been carrying an extra 45kg at the weekend, which added to his challenge of getting to the end of the races unscathed from contact with other cars on the tight and twisty circuit.
After an excellent qualifying performance in which he was third quickest, in race one he drove carefully to avoid the contact from several collisions happening around him as the cars made a rolling start.
He lost a couple of places on the opening lap to lighter cars and then the race turned out to be a procession as the top five remained the same throughout.
In a thrilling race two, from a standing start, he was avoiding incidents with Muller, who he battled hard with for much of the race, and held second for a time behind the German.
Priaulx was arguably quicker than his fellow BMW driver, but neither could prevent the ballast free James Thompson, who won both races in his Alfa Romeo, from passing them.
Article posted on 21st May, 2007 - 12.00am
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