9/19/2007

Priaulx Looking for Brands Boost

On Sunday (September 23), BMW Team UK driver and double World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx will be looking for home victory at the British round of the FIA WTCC 2007 championship at Brands Hatch. Priaulx will arrive at Brands Hatch in the thick of a super-competitive championship battle, trailing team-mate, Augusto Farfus (BMW Germany) by just one point in his bid to secure a hat-trick of consecutive world crowns. With just three rounds of the championship remaining, the title looks set to be decided once again on the streets of Macau at the season climax on November 18.In front of a hugely partisan crowd, Priaulx will be determined to give the fans something to cheer about. Speaking at a media event in London yesterday, he commented: “I'm really looking forward to racing in front of a home crowd - the atmosphere at Brands is going to be amazing. We’re set for a close fought weekend but hopefully I can secure some decent points to keep me in contention for the last two rounds.” “By winning two world titles I feel I have proved it’s not luck, but the competition is getting ever fiercer and you have to raise the bar each year. With the championship this tight, nobody can afford to have a bad day. ” Priaulx will be determined to avoid the disappointment of last year, when he went off at Paddock Hill Bend in torrential conditions, whilst leading the second race. Ironically, the corner remains one of his favourite racing challenges: “Paddock Hill Bend is one of those corners you never drive anywhere else in the world. It’s unconventional - and at the end of the turn you expect to fall from the end of the world. You have got the feeling that you will go off every time you go through it. I love this corner.“ Guernseyman Priaulx, 33 (Team BMW UK), will be driving his works BMW 320si WTCC car run by Bart Mampaey’s Team RBM. Others piloting the same car include: Jorg Muller (Ger) and Augusto Farfus (Bra) of BMW Team Germany, Alessandro Zanardi (Ita) and Felix Porteiro (Esp) of BMW Team Italy – Spain.

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