BRITISH racing champion, Andy Priaulx, stamped his authority on the FIA World Touring Car Championship Sunday with a commanding win in Magny-Cours, France.
The reigning World Champion led from pole position to the end of the race and shared his celebrations with five-year-old son, Sebastian, in front of the world’s media.
Priaulx, from Guernsey, has now won half the season’s four races, placing him first overall, three points ahead of nearest rival Yvan Muller of France. “If you’d told me I’d get this result last week, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Priaulx, 31, who is now looking forward to his home round at Brands Hatch on May 21.
“There are some huge names in this championship – Alex Zanardi, Gabriele Tarquini, Rickard Rydell. Brands Hatch is a great spectator circuit because the racing is really close there. It’s going to be a fantastic battle.”
Over the weekend, 68,000 racing fans travelled to Magny-Cours to watch the WTCC action, which features bumper-to-bumper racing between the most talented touring car drivers on the planet.
In the thick of it were Priaulx’s fellow Brits, James Thompson and Robert Huff. In today’s first race all three were battling for seventh place after Thompson, from Harrogate, leapt up three places from 10th on the grid. Priaulx was hampered by 45kg of success ballast imposed after his success in last month’s Italian round – a measure designed to ensure close racing – but still managed to put 7th-place Thompson under constant pressure.
“He defended very well,” said Priaulx of Thompson. “He didn’t make a mistake and I’m not the sort of driver to push him off. “The French crowd has been tremendous but I’m sure it’s going to be even better at Brands Hatch later this month. The WTCC is growing from strength to strength and I’m just glad to be part of it right now.”
FIA WTCC Drivers Championship
1. Andy Priaulx (GBR) BMW 320si 21 points 2. Yvan Muller (FRA) SEAT Leon 18 points3. Gabriele Tarquini (ITA) SEAT Leon 16 points 4. Jörg Müller (GER) BMW 320si 16 points 5. Dirk Müller (GER) BMW 320si 15 points 6. Jordi Gené (ESP) SEAT Leon 14 points 7. James Thompson (GBR) SEAT Leon 13 points 8. Augusto Farfus Jr (BRA) Alfa Romeo 156 11 points 9. Rickard Rydell (SWE) SEAT Leon 9 points
