YOU can’t be in two places at once – but Andy Priaulx certainly tried on Saturday. The double World Touring Car champion was in Brazil, securing third place in the first qualifying session of the season, while best friend Andy Richmond stood next to a cardboard cut-out of him as best man at the Vale Church.

At a press conference, Priaulx said: ‘I am fully focused on the race now, but still cannot forget my mate, Andy Richmond, who was marrying Carlee Yates as I was getting ready for qualifying.

‘I hope they had a great time, my speech went down well and that they heard the congratulations from Eurosport commentator Martin Haven, who knew I had a special message to them on my helmet.

‘However, I would like to dispute Martin’s suggestion that I was getting out of buying my round in Guernsey.’

Priaulx had prepared a DVD

of his best man’s speech that

took him around the island to places he and Mr Richmond knew well.

Andy’s wife, Jo, who was at the wedding with their children, Sebastian and Daniella, who were pageboy and flower girl, said the DVD was funny and touching.

‘It was amazing. We had a cardboard cut-out at the church and the reception.

‘The DVD was really good and I think they were both very touched.

‘He went all over the island, starting on Andy’s boat, then down to Pleinmont, where Andy has had more than one accident on his motocross bike, down to the beach for the sand racing, to Elizabeth College, where they first met, and back to Andy’s home – it was really special,’ she said.

‘At the end he said, ﾓmate, you deserve the best and the best you have in Carleeﾔ, and I could see a tear in her eye.’

Mrs Priaulx said her husband had been very upset when the Brazil race date was changed.

‘His heart was in two places and he was so upset that he couldn’t be at the wedding. He had a chat with them and kept in touch throughout the day – he did the best he could.’

At the beginning of the night, when the bride and groom took to the dance floor for the first time, Mrs Priaulx was invited to join them – with her cardboard cut-out date. ‘So there I was on the dance floor with this cut-out of Andy.

‘Actually, he was a better dancer than the real one.’

Mrs Richmond, who was dressed in an ivory gown, said her 34-year-old husband, who works at Marine & General, and Andy had been friends for about 20 years and that the two couples were very close.

‘The DVD was brilliant.

‘It was funny and emotional – it was a real tear-jerker,’ said the 27-year-old day-nursery owner.

‘Andy really did pull out all the stops. The boys had two stag nights, one here and another in Manchester, and Andy wore a congratulations message to us on his helmet.’

After the ceremony, the couple hosted drinks and canapes at Castle Cornet and had their reception at St James.

‘We both spoke to Andy at the reception. He asked how the day was going and whether we had enjoyed the DVD. He asked how Jo and the children were – the children were so well behaved. He was just so upset that he couldn’t be here.

‘Watching Jo on the dance floor with the cut-out of Andy was hilarious. We can’t thank him and Jo enough. They are wonderful friends – the best you could have – and we have our fingers crossed that he’ll have a great season.’

* Priaulx placed second in both of his races yesterday, leaving him part of a three-way tie at the top of the table.