Motorsport: Brit star Andy Priaulx

17th November 2006

Andy Priaulx stands on the threshold of joining one of the most exclusive clubs in motorsport history.

To date, only racing legends Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio have won three consecutive FIA track titles – that’s a feat the 31-year-old Channel Islander could emulate this weekend in Macau.

Back in 2004, Priaulx lifted the FIA European Touring Car Championship, and last year he became Britain’s first motor racing world champion since Damon Hill when he took the inaugural FIA World Touring Car Championship. Now, the BMW ace has a good chance of defending the title on Sunday.

The maths show that no fewer than nine drivers – including fellow Brit James Thompson – remain in the race for the 2006 crown. But only a fool would bet against Priaulx completing what would be a famous hat-track of touring car titles.

For starters, he has a healthy habit of winning final round shoot-outs. He also has a terrific record on the narrow Monaco-like street circuit in the Far East, and his BMW 320si enjoys a slight weight advantage over his two closest championship rivals.

Although most purists will argue that a world title should be won on talent alone, the WTCC has a punitive handi-capping system. This penalises success by dishing out up to 80kg of ballast to those doing best in recent races, as well as the drivers to the fore in the outright championship.

Priaulx hasn’t fared well recently when carrying lots of weight, and so has slipped a point behind Alfa Romeo’s Augusto Farfus in the points standings. However, on the bright side, his BMW now starts the grand finale with a reduced 45kg on board.

“The way the series plays around with weights, it was always going to go right down to the wire in Macau, but I’m absolutely fine with that,” said Priaulx.

“I’ve had to do it at the last race of the year for the past two seasons. And I’m confident that if I can be at my very best, I will be world champion once again.”