Andy Priaulx has arrived in Germany. (Picture FIA WTCC, 0579482)
ANDY PRIAULX is looking forward to BMW’s homecoming at Oschersleben this weekend.
The circuit in the Magdeburger Borde region of northern Germany is holding rounds 15 and 16 of this year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship and is considered to be the home track for his manufacturer.
Priaulx is the three-time world champion with BMW Team UK.
‘Obviously, Oschersleben is a home race for all of us BMW drivers – no matter where we come from,’ said Priaulx.
‘My personal memories are of wins and also the emotions of 2005. That year I stood on the podium alongside Alex Zanardi when he won his first WTCC race – there was not a dry eye at the track.’
Yvan Muller is leading the championship on 65 points and the Frenchman’s fellow Seat driver, Gabriele Tarquini, is in second, one point behind.
Priaulx is third in the table on 49.
That followed a mixed weekend for the Sarnian at Brands Hatch last month.
After coming third in the first race of the meeting to gain six championship points, he suffered an unfortunate puncture in the second that saw him finish outside the points.
‘Unfortunately, race two was a disappointment but these things happen,’ said Priaulx at the time.
‘You cannot expect to win every race.’
Oschersleben is one of most established meetings on the FIA Touring Car Championship’s circuit, although the track is one of the youngest in Germany, having opened on 25 July 1997.
Between 2002 and 2004 it hosted six European Championship races.
One outstanding feature is the ‘Hasseroder Kurve’, which is a slightly elevated 180-degree bend. They are rarely found in this form on modern circuits.
Priaulx clearly enjoys Oschers-leben.
At last year’s meeting, having qualified eighth for race one, he finished fifth and in race two he came second.
His efforts gave him 12 points and put him one behind the then-championship leader, Augusto Farfus, who also went away with 12 points.
Priaulx, of course, went on to take last year’s championship after a dramatic final meeting in Macau.
Article posted on 29th August, 2008 - 3.00pm
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