Andy Priaulx’s BMW 320si ahead of Yvan Muller’s Chevrolet Cruze LT in a rain-swept Okayama. Priaulx’s results and those of his teammate Augusto Farfus from Japan have been annulled, handing Muller the world title. (Picture by BMW AG)

ANDY PRIAULX’S title dream is officially over after a court ruling put him out of this year’s championship fight before Macau.

The Sarnian, who is a triple FIA World Touring Car champion, was 37 points behind Yvan Muller going into this weekend’s final round, with 50 points still available and an outside chance of his fourth crown.

But after an appeal from Chevrolet to the International Court of Appeal in Paris, points earned by Priaulx and BMW teammate Augusto Farfus in Okayama have been annulled.

The issue centres around sequential gear boxes which both cars used in Japan, after receiving confirmation from the race stewards beforehand that they were legal.

But that call from the stewards was wrong and the court upheld Chevrolet’s appeal, meaning that Muller is now the world champion, being 55 points ahead of Gabriele Tarquini.

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