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British 1-2...on Track And In The Points |
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Sunday, 03 September 2006 |
Reigning FIA World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx, is celebrating after regaining the championship lead in the Czech Republic this weekend.
Today’s rounds 13 and 14 of the competition put the BMW driver nine points clear of countryman James Thompson, who had an abysmal weekend leaving Brno empty-handed.
There was success too for Newmarket’s Rob Huff, who masterminded his first WTCC victory in race two, successfully defending against four-times race winner, Priaulx, from start to finish.
Huff, who drives for Chevrolet, said: "It's unbelievable. What a fantastic day, especially after the huge crash I had at Mexico, when I had to be taken away in a helicopter to hospital.
“The boys rebuilt the car in a week so this is for them. It's my first
win, a long time coming, but fantastic. What a great effort from the
whole team."
Priaulx, who had his highest points-scoring weekend of the season,
said: "I'm delighted. I never expected to do much with 60kg of
ballast*. The team really worked hard over the last few weeks.
“I don't want to take anything away from Rob because he drove
brilliantly, but I have to think of the championship. I’ve won four
races but it didn’t help me because of the weight. With 60kg here, it
was the best result for me to get on the podium.”
Previous championship leader, James Thompson, had a disastrous
qualifying session on Saturday, registering only the 20th fastest time.
His bad fortune continued into both races as the SEAT driver finished
out of the points in 14th position in race one and failed to complete
the second race after problems with his power-steering.
"Brno was definitely not the place to be carrying seventy kilos!” said
Thompson, from Harrogate, who earned the success ballast after a
dominant performance in Mexico last month. “Once I qualified so far
back, it was impossible to race. The speed difference between the cars
was just massive.
“What happened in the second race put me out of my misery. I had a
vibration at the front of the car and the team told me on the radio to
pull in, in case it was an engine problem.
“It would have been great to take one or two points from here, but at
least I go to the next race with less weight. I’m still second in the
Championship, so it’s not all doom and gloom.”
The next round of the WTCC will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on the September 23rd.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 January 2007 )
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