ANDY PRIAULX slammed the tactics of the Alfa Romeo team as he and the BMW drivers endured their worst weekend of the FIA European Touring Car Championship season at Imola yesterday. On a circuit suited to the home country’s Alfa Romeos, the Guernseyman did well to claim fifth place in race one and was going well in the second race until being forced out on lap three after a collision with the Italian Salvatore Tavano.

Priaulx was in no doubt where the blame lay.

‘I was involved in several incidents during the races, each of them caused by an Alfa Romeo. I’m very disappointed.

‘If I win this championship, I will win it fairly. I don’t think they will get any credit by doing it the way they do.

‘In some respects this makes me more determined to fight for the championship, but I will not just drive into the side of another car to win a race.’

Priaulx’s haul of just four points sees him drop to joint third in the championship, alongside German Jorg Muller, who also endured an unhappy day.

Alfa star Gabriela Tarquini won both races to leap into second place in the title race, one point ahead of Priaulx and just seven adrift of the championship leader Dirk Muller.

With four races remaining, two at Oschersleben in Germany and two in Dubai, Priaulx is far from out of contention and will carry just five kilos of penalty ballast next time around.

Priaulx had qualified ninth on a circuit suited to the front-wheel drive cars.

He was the highest placed BMW driver in qualifying and matched that in race one when he finished two places ahead of Jorg Muller and three clear of Dirk.

It was Priaulx’s first appearance on the famous Italian track and he said he was happy with enough with his qualifying performances.