Andy Priaulx

One more time

Andy is World Champion 2007

Andy Priaulx has completed an amazing hat-trick by winning the FIA World Touring Car Championship in China today. The Guernsey driver had to battle back after a disastrous qualifying session and he not only clinched his fourth successive touring car championship title, but also won the final race of the season round the streets of Macau.

It was a very emotional Priaulx who got out of his BMW Team UK car after the final race of what has been a turbulent season: “I never give up but I knew it needed something special to win this title for the third time. I have now been in a championship winning position in the final race of the season for five years in a row. We all know you need a bit of luck to win a championship, but also you have to be there to take the luck and today was my lucky day. I had some amazing people round me giving me motivation. The car was reliable, the team was reliable and that is also an important key to wining the championship.”

The luck came in race one. Priaulx was a lowly 12th on the grid and was only able to pick up one place as the race was going into the final two laps. His main rival for the title, Yvan Muller, was in the lead, but then SEAT had a fuel problem and the Frenchman retired.

This left fellow BMW driver and championship contender, Augusto Farfus, second. However, on the final lap after a collision with the SEAT of Gabriele Tarquini his car crashed into the barriers. As the cars crossed the line Priaulx was in eighth, thus ensuring himself of pole for race two. No race is easy, but Priaulx made the second one look just this as he led for the entire nine laps.

Macau is a lucky place for Priaulx as this is the third time in a row he has clinched the world title here. However, it comes at a price as yesterday it was his daughter’s fourth birthday and, as usual he missed this. In fact he also missed the birth of Daniella as he was in Macau when she arrived. However, he was able to send both her and his son, Sebastian, all is love via Eurosport.

This was also a great weekend for BMW as it won the Manufacturers’ Championship. This was also a hat-trick of World titles, which followed a hat-trick of European titles.

Show your pride by visiting Andy's official online store and choosing from the wide range of exclusive merchandise > fan gear shop