BMW Team UK racer Andy Priaulx celebrated in style 20 November after being crowned FIA World Touring Car Champion at the final round of the premier tin-top series in Macau, China.
Priaulx, the first British FIA World Champion since Damon Hill in 1996, scored a brace of second place finishes in his BMW 320si at the demanding street-based Guia Circuit, a result which not only handed him the 2005 world title but also secured the coveted Manufacturers' World Championship for BMW.
The Guernsey-based racer, who has an unrivalled knowledge of the Chinese venue, was understandably overjoyed with the result and commented: It's really just a strange feeling at the moment. Macau is so special. To qualify on pole meant a lot but I felt that only 10 per cent of the work was done. After Race 1 was over and I learnt Dirk had finished tenth and Giovanardi did not finish, it looked good for me. The pressure was still there though. It was great during the race when I heard I was world champion and it has been fantastic ever since!
BMW's Director of Motorsport Dr Mario Theissen commented: There have only ever been two touring car world champions and I am very happy that both were BMW drivers and that Andy is one of them. Last year, when Andy won the ETCC we gave him a test drive in a Formula 1 car as a gift. I think we will now have to invent a whole new series because you can't better that.
Priaulx won the title with a total of 101 points, with Dirk Műller of BMW Team Deutschland in second with 86 points and Fabrizio Giovanardi driving an Alfa Romeo in third place with 81 points. Priaulx scooped top honours courtesy of consistent driving throughout the season, making it to the podium 11 times. BMW won the manufacturers' title with a total of 273 points, 37 points more than second placed Alfa Romeo.
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