Priaulx revives title bid with 8 points in Spain

By Rob Batiste

ANDY PRIAULX is back in the thick of the world touring car title race after picking up eight points in Valencia yesterday.

Starting the day in fifth place in the championship, 12 points behind leader Rickard Rydell of Sweden, the defending champion grabbed seventh and third place finishes to close to within six of Rydell after six rounds.

On an altogether tighter leaderboard, he remains fifth with Italian Seat driver Gabrieli Tarquini now heading the standings with 36. Priaulx qualified sixth for the first of the Valencia rounds, emerging as the best of the BMW drivers on a weekend when Chevrolet dominated, winning both times.

In the opening race Priaulx clashed early on with fellow BMW man Augusto Farfus, but he finished strongly to snatch seventh and, as a consequence, a place on the front row of the grid for the second race. Priaulx made the perfect start to the second race and led into the first corner.

But Alain Menu’s Chevrolet was soon all over the back of the No. 1 car and not only did the Guernseyman give way to Menu but also his Chevrolet teammate Robert Huff.

Standings:

1, Tarquini 36; 2 equal, Yvan Muller and Rickard Rydell 28; 4, Jordi Gene 24; 5, Priaulx 22.

Article posted on 19th May, 2008 - 2.29pm

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