ANDY PRIAULX is stepping into unknown territory as the World Touring Car Championship series lands at Curitiba, Brazil, this weekend. The 31-year-old Guernsey-man, who was crowned European Touring Car champion in 2004 and then world champion last year, has never competed before on the Autodromo Internacional de Curitiba.

‘I’ve never driven there before: it will be interesting,’ he said.

Curitiba has a population of 1.6m. and is located 340km south-west of Sao Paulo. The circuit was constructed in 1965 and it is 2.55km long with seven right corners, four left-handers and five straights.

Rounds nine and 10 at the track mark the end of the first half of this year’s campaign which sees Priaulx in first place in the standings. He is level on 33 points with France’s Yvan Muller but takes the top spot as he has a heavier weight handicap.

His old rival Dirk Muller is in third place with 32 points.

Priaulx refuses to predict that he will be in the lead come the end of the final race in Macau.

He sensationally took last year’s world title at the East Asian circuit.

‘It’s not possible to say,’ said Priaulx.

‘With the weight and the reverse grid, it will go down to Macau again. It’s all about getting as many points as possible.

‘I’m going into every weekend looking to do my best possible.’

Priaulx has had a busy time of late.

He was at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal where he was involved in the BMW Sauber FI Team Pit Lane Park exhibition. A total of 41,000 people experienced the event that saw Priaulx driving the Formula One racer.

He travelled to Brazil on Tuesday afternoon to join his team who were already there.

The car and all the equipment started their long journey on 4 June after the last race in Oschersleben, Germany.

After Curitiba, everything is then being transported to Puebla, Mexico, for the next rounds on 11 and 12 July.

‘I’m looking forward to coming home,’ said Priaulx.

He goes into the weekend in a buoyant mood.

‘I’m pretty confident,’ he said.

‘I’ve just got a feeling in me. We’re working well at the moment.

‘As long as I drive as well as I have done over the last three years, then I should be there or thereabouts.’