This Is Guernsey

By Aaron Scoones

ANDY PRIAULX feels that his BMW 320si will put more pressure on the dominant Seat Turbo Diesels this year.

The Sarnian won the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

However, he could not make it four in a row last year as he had to concede to the all conquering Seat Leon TDIs, which powered Yvan Muller to the title and saw Seat pick up the manufacturer’s championship as well.

But ahead of this weekend’s season opener in Curitiba, Brazil, Priaulx is quite upbeat after seeing Seat’s wings clipped.

‘Seat have had their engine performance slightly reduced by the FIA, which will make things more even,’ he said.

‘I think we’ve got more of a chance this year. I’m very optimistic that we’re going to be more competitive this year than last.’

Another factor that could play into Priaulx’s hands is that the success-ballast system has been overhauled.

In a nutshell, the more successful a driver was in the past, the more weight he had to carry.

But this year, a compensation weight scheme has been introduced, which is based on lap time calculation.

The best lap times in qualifying of the two fastest cars of each model and the two best lap times of the two fastest cars of each model in both races, are averaged.

The calculation is based on a three-event rolling average, but it will not come into affect until after the first two events – Curitiba and Puebla, Mexico, early next month.

In simple terms weight is then added to cars with the quickest averages with the fastest model of car always having the maximum compensation weight on board.

But weight will be added to every car of that model and not to individual driver’s cars, as in the old system.

Priaulx has never been a fan of weight penalisation, but he does prefer the new way.

‘Hopefully [it will mean] the faster drivers will be fighting it out at the front, which is what the fans will want,’ he said.

‘I don’t know [how well it will work], but I didn’t like the success ballast idea because I didn’t like it that they can manipulate the championship. But at the end of the day they are trying to make it more even and this should make things a bit more equal.’

However, one thing going against Priaulx is that his BMW Team UK outfit, due to the recession, have not been able to make any major modifications to his car.

‘My winter preparations, mentally and physically, have gone very, very well, but my gut feeling is that my package isn’t quite good enough at the moment,’ he said.

‘Money is pretty tight and we’re running pretty much the same car, but saying that everyone is in the same boat.’

Priaulx has yet to win at Curitiba since it was added to the calendar in 2007, but he has put in some good performances at the Brazilian circuit.

In the first year he picked up two second-placed finishes to see him top the championship table.

It kickstarted a brilliant year for him as, after a dramatic final meeting in Macau, he claimed his third world championship in a row.

Last year he came home with a fourth-placed finish and a runner-up spot.

Priaulx is not sure how Sunday’s races will pan out.

‘It’s very, very difficult to say,’ he said.

‘Only until you actually qualify will you really know where you are.’

But he certainly has his sights firmly set on a fourth world title come the end of the year.

‘That’s my goal. That’s what I’m aiming for,’ he said.

‘The important thing is to separate performances from results. I have to perform to my best and the results will come.’

• Sunday’s action is being shown live on Eurosport and Eurosport 2, from 12.30 GMT.

Article posted on 6th March, 2009 - 2.30pm