BMW FIA WTCC Season Review 2006

BMW and Andy Priaulx win WTCC double. München, 22.11.06, Andy Priaulx (GBR) from BMW Team UK is the old and new World Touring Car Champion. In a gripping season final in Macau, the 32-year-old was able to succeed against eight competitors who all still had chances of winning the drivers' title prior to the final races of the season. Following his World Championship triumph last year, Priaulx was able to win the championship title for the second time in a row. At the same time, he is the only two-time World Champion in Touring Car history. In 1987, when the battle for the world title in this discipline was held for the first time, another BMW driver took the top spot in the drivers' rankings, Robert Ravaglia (ITA). Behind Priaulx, who scored 73 points, BMW Team Germany's Jörg Müller (GER) completed the great overall result as runner-up. BMW also succeeded in defending the manufacturers' title. Overall, the brand collected 254 points with the new BMW 320si WTCC and had a 19-point lead over second-placed SEAT. BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen, commented: "It's a great success for BMW to have won the manufacturers' title for the third time in a row. This year we entered a completely new car, the BMW 320si WTCC and the car won the championship at its first attempt. Congratulations to Andy Priaulx for defending the title. He proved this year once more that he is the man to beat in touring car racing. To be able to collect five victories in this hard-fought championship is an outstanding achievement."

Strong result for the BMW national teams.

In the 2006 WTCC season, BMW once more entered three national teams to battle
for points and victories in the pinnacle of touring car racing. The BMW Team UK
- RBM outfit was responsible for Priaulx's car. Over the course of the 20
races, the experienced team of Bart Mampaey (BEL) again set the benchmark in
the WTCC. At the season finale in Macau, RBM additionally fielded the BMW 320si
WTCC of Jan Magnussen (DEN). BMW Team Germany - Schnitzer Motorsport can also
look back on a successful season. Jörg Müller (GER) claimed four race wins and
finished second in the drivers' classification scoring 72 points. His
team-mate, Dirk Müller (GER) celebrated victory in Magny-Cours and came sixth
overall with 54 points. Both drivers who were once more under the wing of Team
Principal Charly Lamm (GER) had title hopes prior the final WTCC event in
Macau.