|
World Domination for Priaulx |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 19 November 2006 |
 Britain has a new world champion after Andy Priaulx stormed to his second successive FIA World Touring Car Championship victory at Macau this morning.
The 32-year-old, from Guernsey, was master of the typically fierce racing of touring cars at the famous Chinese street circuit, and won his fifth race of the year – more than any other driver - to secure the title.
The result puts him one point ahead of BMW team-mate, Jörg Müller, and into the history books as the first driver to win back-to-back WTCC titles.
"I'm numb with emotion,” said Priaulx, who also won the European
Touring Car Championship in 2004. “Winning three in a row is almost too
much to take.
"It means a lot more than the first title as people look at the first
one and say it was a fluke. It has been a real team effort as they gave
me the car to do it and we have achieved the ultimate goal. It has been
a tough day and I want to thank the team, BMW, my friends and family as
they made it possible.”
Priaulx, who went to Macau trailing Alfa Romeo’s Augusto Farfus Jr. by
one point, was made to work for the title – safely navigating first
corner chaos in both of today’s races and fending off a charging
Fabrizio Giovanardi, who guest drove the JAS Honda, to safeguard his
one-point advantage.
“The pressure in the second race was unbearable to be honest and I
couldn't have taken another lap of it,” said Priaulx. “Fabrizio was
hitting me every lap but I knew I needed to finish sixth or better and
we did it. I have nothing left to give, I'm absolutely knackered.”
Also in contention at the start of the weekend was Harrogate’s James
Thompson, but the 32-year-old’s hopes were dashed after a fragmented
qualifying session saw his best laps ruined by red-flags.
"If I’m being realistic, the damage was done over the last three race
weekends,” said the two-times British Touring Car Champion, who did not
score any points in the preceding six races. “I had an outside chance
of the Championship, but starting from 24th on the grid meant it was
never going to happen. As it was, to come away with a fourth place was
a good effort.”
FIA WTCC Constructors Championship (provisional points):
1 BMW 254
2 SEAT 235
3 Alfa Romeo 154
4 Chevrolet 128
FIA WTCC Drivers Championship (provisional points):
1 A. Priaulx GBR BMW 73
2 J. Müller GER BMW 72
3 A. Farfus Jr BRA ALPHA 64
4 Y. Muller FRA SEAT 62
5 G. Tarquini ITA SEAT 57
6 D. Müller GER BMW 54
7 R. Rydell SWE SEAT 54
8 J. Thompson GBR SEAT 54
9 P. Terting GER SEAT 49
10 J. Gené ESP SEAT 36
|
