Andy Priaulx - WTCC Champion.....AGAIN!
Discussion
British driver Andy Priaulx clinched the 2005 World Touring Car Championship after a pair of second-places in Macau.
The Guernsey-based 31-year-old gained the upper hand over standings leader Dirk Muller in race one when his rival withdrew with technical problems.
Priaulx's seven-point lead going into race two meant Muller had to win the race to be certain of the title.
But when Muller skidded off at the Lisboa turn on lap four, Priaulx's victory was secure.
Fabrizio Giovanardi, the only other title contender, blew his chances when he crashed out of race one.
Brazil's Augusto Farfus Jr, who finished fourth overall, won Sunday's opening race, with Duncan Huisman triumphing in the second.
After his title success, Priaulx paid tribute to a lucky charm.
He said: "I bought a Buddha on Thursday night and the first session I wore it I had a puncture.
"At that point I thought maybe I should take it off but then I realised I had a puncture in Macau without hitting the wall - so I put the Buddha straight back on again!
"It will stay with me for the rest of my career. It could all so easily have ended in tears in the first race but that's destiny. I believed I wanted it most."
The BMW driver admitted it was "great when I was told during the race I was world champion".
He added: "The whole world lifted off my shoulders."
The Guernsey-based 31-year-old gained the upper hand over standings leader Dirk Muller in race one when his rival withdrew with technical problems.
Priaulx's seven-point lead going into race two meant Muller had to win the race to be certain of the title.
But when Muller skidded off at the Lisboa turn on lap four, Priaulx's victory was secure.
Fabrizio Giovanardi, the only other title contender, blew his chances when he crashed out of race one.
Brazil's Augusto Farfus Jr, who finished fourth overall, won Sunday's opening race, with Duncan Huisman triumphing in the second.
After his title success, Priaulx paid tribute to a lucky charm.
He said: "I bought a Buddha on Thursday night and the first session I wore it I had a puncture.
"At that point I thought maybe I should take it off but then I realised I had a puncture in Macau without hitting the wall - so I put the Buddha straight back on again!
"It will stay with me for the rest of my career. It could all so easily have ended in tears in the first race but that's destiny. I believed I wanted it most."
The BMW driver admitted it was "great when I was told during the race I was world champion".
He added: "The whole world lifted off my shoulders."
pablo said:
pah! doesnt matter really, for someone who started in hillclimbs to get to that level (and success) of professional motorsport is incredible.
I watched this guy at the Val De Terres Hillclimb in Guernsey for several years in the early '90s and he was streets ahead of everyone else, so it came as no surprise to me when he achieved what he did, although his foray into single seaters wasn't entirely successful!
Brilliant stuff Andy - now the proper job is done, you can get back to the arduous task of sitting next to Georgie Thompson to commentate on A1 GP !
Rob
www.grandprixdiary.com
Rob
www.grandprixdiary.com
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