Andy Priaulx, far right nearest camera, finds himself in the thick of the action at the start of the first race in Valencia. (Picture FIA WTCC 0581927)
ANDY PRIAULX is on a yellow card warning and could be docked valuable grid positions if he is guilty of indiscretions at either of the next two world touring car championship meetings.
The Guernseyman says he is feeling hard done by after stewards in Valencia penalised him for making contact in the first of the two races in Spain on Sunday.
An unhappy Priaulx said: ‘I always try to be fair and do the best I can to keep my racing clean, but differences of opinion are inevitable. A rolling start is always hectic and contact is often inevitable with us all wanting the same piece of tarmac. In race one, in the dash for the first few corners, most of us at the front were bouncing off each other. It was not intentional and any contact I had was just one of those things.
‘I feel hard done by that the stewards penalised me and so I have the equivalent of a yellow card – any similar incident in the next two events they think is my fault will mean I drop 10 grid positions.’
Meanwhile Priaulx, who came away from Spain with seven extra points and still in contention for the title, says he hurts when he looks at the current manufacturers’ standings.
After years of BMW dominance, they lie third behind leaders SEAT and the emerging Chevrolet team.
‘I know we have to work hard on our car as we are just too slow to beat both Chevrolet and SEAT.
‘In the drivers’ championship I may be the highest placed BMW driver, but that is not much consolation when I know that I need more speed to keep beating them and the guys in the SEAT’s and Chevrolets.
‘It hurts to see BMW third in the manufacturers’ championship – a position we have never been in before.’
The next two rounds of the championship are in Pau, France, on Sunday week.
Article posted on 21st May, 2008 - 2.29pm
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