The 2006 Season
Andy Priaulx: 3 times Touring Car Champion!
1995
British Hill Climb Champion Andy Priaulx clinched the 2006 FIA World Touring
Car Championship title in a tight, nail bighting finale to the series round
the tortuous street circuit of Macau yesterday. The BMW Team UK driver won
race one and came fifth in race two to emerge ahead of the other eight title
aspirants, beating fellow BMW driver, Joerg Muller, by just one point. It
was three in a row for the Guernsey driver who won the European title in 2004
and the World title in 2005.
A
jubilant and very emotional Priaulx said after the race: "A race is never
easy, but the first one went according to plan. I was on pole, got a good
start and led from start to finish. However, race two was a different kettle
of fish. Although I had gone from one point behind series leader, Augusto
Farfus, to five in front the pressure was there and, of course, I was starting
from eighth on the grid with a 45 kilo load of ballast. I reckon this was
one of my best and at the same time hardest races ever."
Priaulx's
explanation of what this win means to him was: "This one is special as every
year you win a championship it means a lot more than the one before. Winning
consecutive titles is very, very hard and the pressure on this one was massive.
In 2004 I went to Dubai trailing by 12 points, so I was sort of discounted
from being a serious challenger. Last year it was just three of us in with
a chance, I was leading the series and the title was sown up after race one.
Lot of factors have come into play this season and I can't forget that in
the race meeting before this in Valencia I came from almost last to score
a single point - how important that proved to be today. It has been a long
season as we started racing in March, but even before that were testing in
January. I don't think I need tell anyone what I am going to do tonight and
for the next few days!"
Championship Points
1. Andy Priaulx 73
2. Joerg Muller 72
3. Augusto Farfus 64
4. Yvan Muller 62
5. Gabriele Tarquini 57
6. Dirk Mueller 54
Manufacturers' Championship Points
1. BMW 254
2. SEAT 235
3. Alfa Romeo 154
4. Chevrolet 128