Eurosport’s World Touring Car Championship commentator Martin Haven gets a ride with Andy Priaulx in a KTM X-Bow yesterday during the Race of Champions in the Bird’s Nest stadium. (0867509)
MECHANICAL problems for the second day running cost Andy Priaulx dearly as he was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Race of Champions by Jenson Button.
Up against the newly crowned Formula One world champion in the last eight of the competition that featured some of the best drivers around from different disciplines of motorsport, Priaulx seemed to stall his Ford Focus WRC 09 car on the line. He later revealed that he was caught out by the launch control of the rally car he was driving.
Button shot off around the specially constructed circuit inside Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium and by the time Guernsey’s three-time World Touring Car Champion got under way, he had an unassailable lead to win by a clear four seconds.
‘I was determined to get through the first hurdle as it was a long way to come to go home so soon. All went according to plan, but then the car got the better of me,’ Priaulx said.
‘It is a complex machine, but that’s life and the most important thing is that I have had fun and an amazing experience.
‘I want to say a big thank you to the organisers, who did an amazing job. They can count me in for next year’s event,’ added the Guernseyman.
Sweden’s multiple DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom defeated Button in the semi-finals before going on to defeat Formula One legend Michael Schumacher in the final.
The day before, in the semi-finals of the ROC Nations Cup, Priaulx, who was representing Great Britain with Button, suffered a slipping clutch in the same rally car in their semi-final clash with China and was disqualified when he crept over the start line.
Britain did go on to make the final, but lost 2-1 to the German team of Sebastian Vettel, a driver many are tipping to win next year’s F1, and Schumacher.Race of Champions: Button beats fellow Briton in quarter-finals
Article posted on 5th November, 2009 - 2.29pm
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