This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

ANDY PRIAULX keeps re-writing the motor racing history books. Another chapter was added this week when he was awarded the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Gold Medal.

This is only the eighth time it has been awarded and Priaulx is the only current racing driver to have this honour.

It was at the BRDC annual lunch at the Savoy Hotel in London that the presentation was made by the club’s president, Damon Hill, and it was ‘in recognition of outstanding contemporary racing success’.

In the past this has never been awarded to a driver for his success on the track while he was still competing. However, the club said this had to change this year due to the Sarnian’s ‘unprecedented and spectacular’ third World Championship title.

The citation included: ‘He is rated by his fellow drivers as ﾓthe complete package - the consummate professionalﾔ. He is a hard-fighting sportsman but always a gentleman, as well as being a dedicated father and husband, relentless charity fund-raiser and proud Guernseyman.’

Priaulx’s name will now be added to an amazing role of honour that includes former drivers Sir Stirling Moss and Martin Brundle and elite members of the motorsport fraternity Bernie Ecclestone, Sir Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Ken Tyrrell and Murray Walker.

Priaulx is already the proud owner of two Gold Stars, but they will now sit alongside the award which is reserved by the BRDC for ‘occasions when nothing less than the highest honour is fitting’.

Despite the WTCC champion receiving the top accolade, national headlines were unsurprisingly taken by Formula One sensation Lewis Hamilton, who picked up four awards.

The Guernseyman admitted this week that the McLaren star had ‘taken a lot of attention away from the other British drivers’.

‘Motor racing is all about marketing and I guess you could say that’s my biggest downfall if you like. I’ve always let my driving do the talking,’ Priaulx told Reuters.

‘I’ve given up trying to educate people. I’m just doing this for my own reasons now.

‘I get recognition from within the sport and that’s enough.’

The BMW Team UK driver has already set his sights on a fourth consecutive WTCC title, although he knows it gets harder every year to stay at the top.

‘The regulations were very biased against me this year,’ said Priaulx, referring to Seat’s new turbo-diesel engine introduced during the season.

‘Their car was substantially faster than any other car on the circuits and nothing was done about it. I just hope BMW don’t get fed up and decide to do something else.’

Priaulx will get the chance to show off his skills against some of the biggest names in motorsport on 16 December when he takes part in the Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium.

Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and close friend Jenson Button will all be involved on a specially constructed circuit, along with rally drivers such as Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg.

‘It’s a great event, a real crowd pleaser,’ said Priaulx, who will partner Button in Team England.

One man missing will be Colin McRae, the former rally world champion, who died, along with his young son, in a helicopter crash earlier this year. ‘It’s so sad that Colin won’t be there,’ said Priaulx.

‘As a father myself I felt so sorry for his family. His brother, Alister, will be driving with David Coulthard and I’m sure it will be fairly emotional.’