Andy Priaulx, alongside the yellow Seat, is just ahead of an accident involving fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus (3) during an incident packed meeting at Brands Hatch yesterday. (Picture FIA WTCC)
ANDY PRIAULX is up to third in the drivers’ standings of the World Touring Car Championship. However, the gaps between him (49 points), leader Yvan Muller (65) and second-placed Gabriele Tarquini (64) might have been reduced further had the BMW Team UK driver not suffered a puncture when in the points during the second race.
The Guernseyman had earlier claimed a spot on the podium in the first race of his home meeting at Brands Hatch when he finished third.
‘The first race was a reminder of Estoril all over again. I just cannot seem to find a way past Yvan [Muller] at the moment,’ Priaulx said. ‘I was pretty happy with my result. We had a great warm-up, the car had the pace, but I was limited by Yvan’s mid-corner speed and couldn’t make any headway. A podium was great.
‘Unfortunately, race two was disappointing, but these things happen. You cannot expect to win every race.’
The first one gave spectators a fantastically dramatic show and Jorg Muller his first victory of the season after Robert Huff went off while leading, suffering from tyre problems.
Priaulx, who had qualified fourth, Yvan Muller and Alain Menu had fought for the next position right up until the chequered flag.
But the reigning world champion simply could not find a way past the new championship leader.
Menu won the second race, which endured a lengthy period under the safety car, while Priaulx was forced into the pits from seventh position late on after his front right tyre had punctured.
Tarquini scored valuable points by finishing fourth while Yvan Muller was out of the points in 11th.
Before he went out on Saturday qualifying in his BMW 320si WTCC car, Priaulx had had the chance to drive a Formula One car on the Brands Hatch track for the first time.
After completing five laps in the BMW Sauber F1 Team car, he said: ‘That was the most amazing experience. It gives you a lot of respect for those guys who drove Formula One races here in the 80s – they were really brave.
‘To drive a current Formula One car round such a historic circuit was a great experience and I can’t thank BMW enough for letting me have this opportunity.
‘For me it is weird to drive two so different cars in such a small space of time.’
Article posted on 28th July, 2008 - 2.30pm
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