Could Andy Priaulx get to F1?
Discussion
IndyAndy777 said:
3 WTCC titles to his name, now a drive in the DTM for BMW. The DTM championship is a (natural) stepping stone to Formula one. Do you think we will see him there in a couple of years? I certainly hope so, I think he has what it takes to compete at that level.
I wouldn't say DTM is a natural stepping stone to F1, it more often seems to be where the old guys and no-hopers go after they've outstayed their welcome in F1. In the current F1 field, only Paul di Resta has come from DTM and while he's making a decent fist of it, he's never going to set F1 alight. Meanwhile, David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher have gone the other way... Ralf particularly notable for achieving the sum of f
k-all.GP2, F3, those are the series the teams look to for their future drivers. Priaulx is talented, no doubt, but he is too old (look how much pace the formidable MSC has dropped!) and has spent a lifetime in cars that are a world apart from F1, he'd never adjust to a competitive level.
Didn't Alesi and Hakkinen have a go at DTM once they left F1 too ? As said above DTM isn't generally a stepping stone to F1, Di Resta is the exception to the rule. WSR and GP2 are the feeder series really, even then its tough work getting in to F1 from there - ask Soucek, Grosjean etc.
Priaulx has been doing a bit of GT racing this year - had a bit of a shunt at Le Mans this year and has a class win at Sebring in the ALMS series a week or two ago. Its actually quite surpising the number of names you'll recognise in GT/Lemans/ALMS/GrandAm.. Who would of thought the kid that looked totally out of his depth in the Stewart could race like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LHqNAiWPk
Priaulx has been doing a bit of GT racing this year - had a bit of a shunt at Le Mans this year and has a class win at Sebring in the ALMS series a week or two ago. Its actually quite surpising the number of names you'll recognise in GT/Lemans/ALMS/GrandAm.. Who would of thought the kid that looked totally out of his depth in the Stewart could race like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LHqNAiWPk
Crafty_ said:
Who would of thought the kid that looked totally out of his depth in the Stewart could race like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LHqNAiWPk
s
tting hell, that was top-drawer racing! Got a little nasty in the last hundred yards. 
I've followed AP since he was in F3. He went to Buttons old team the year after him, but I think the Renault engines were loosing thier edge. Then he went to Alan Docking. I don't think they had enough money to be competative.
I think he gave up on F1 when he went into the BTCC.
He is good. He uses his head ;-)
I think he gave up on F1 when he went into the BTCC.
He is good. He uses his head ;-)
Crafty_ said:
Didn't Alesi and Hakkinen have a go at DTM once they left F1 too ? As said above DTM isn't generally a stepping stone to F1, Di Resta is the exception to the rule. WSR and GP2 are the feeder series really, even then its tough work getting in to F1 from there - ask Soucek, Grosjean etc.
Priaulx has been doing a bit of GT racing this year - had a bit of a shunt at Le Mans this year and has a class win at Sebring in the ALMS series a week or two ago. Its actually quite surpising the number of names you'll recognise in GT/Lemans/ALMS/GrandAm.. Who would of thought the kid that looked totally out of his depth in the Stewart could race like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LHqNAiWPk
What a shame it had to end like that. Does anyone know what the outcome was?Priaulx has been doing a bit of GT racing this year - had a bit of a shunt at Le Mans this year and has a class win at Sebring in the ALMS series a week or two ago. Its actually quite surpising the number of names you'll recognise in GT/Lemans/ALMS/GrandAm.. Who would of thought the kid that looked totally out of his depth in the Stewart could race like this ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0LHqNAiWPk
Results stood but both were put on a 2 race probation period for the start of 2010 season which to me is a bit wet considering the extent of the damage to the Corvette at the finish line. If he didn't tag the back of the Porche in the last hairpin the result would have been reversed IMO.
I think he'll be happy with what he's done so far and has to come in the future. If you can't make it to F1, I'd say a long term relationship with a major car manufacturer would be just as good. The same could be said of McNish (yes I know he had a season in F1), Kristensen and all the other top sportscar drivers who never really had a chance at F1.
A chap who has really over-achieved in every category he's competed in. I think he's pretty happy at BMW and my feeling is that he's F1's loss as much as the other way round. I'm really excited about BMW coming back into the DTM and bringing the likes of Jorg Muller and Priaulx with them. I'm not sure everyone will agree but I can't help but feel their talents aren't best savoured in 2.0L hatchbacks.
IainW said:
I think he'll be happy with what he's done so far and has to come in the future. If you can't make it to F1, I'd say a long term relationship with a major car manufacturer would be just as good. The same could be said of McNish (yes I know he had a season in F1), Kristensen and all the other top sportscar drivers who never really had a chance at F1.
Brundle calls Kristensen "the best driver never to get into F1", high praise indeed. For whatever reason, like Priaulx it just never happened.
Its good though, gives us more decent racing to watch
Kristensen F1 ladder just didn't work out
He was in F3000 in 96. Some good names in it that year - but the only person to make it to F1 finished 4th and that was Ricardo Zonta !
1 Jörg Müller
2 Kenny Bräck
3 Marc Goossens
4 Ricardo Zonta
5 Marcos Gueiros
6 Tom Kristensen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_International_Fo...
I had forgot how long he's been a factory BMW driver - since 2003 - until I read the BMW DTM article on Autosport. He knows he's onto a good thing with BMW, and so do they with him.
His book was a good read as someone else has said.
Back after he'd done the BTCC for Honda in 2002 they were still deliberating over their 2003 involvement, and thats when BMW UK came knocking at Priaulx's door. How different his life could have been if Honda had been decisive!
His book was a good read as someone else has said.
Back after he'd done the BTCC for Honda in 2002 they were still deliberating over their 2003 involvement, and thats when BMW UK came knocking at Priaulx's door. How different his life could have been if Honda had been decisive!
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