WTCC - Rounds 19 and 20 - Macau - Race

FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) 2005 Rounds 19 & 20, Macau
(China) - 18th/20th November 2005 - Races Andy Priaulx wins the World
Touring Car Championship in a BMW 320i - BMW takes Manufacturers' title
- One-two win in final race. Macau (China), 20th November 2005. In a
gripping final to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Macau, Andy
Priaulx (GBR) of BMW Team UK has claimed the World Championship title.
The 31-year-old finished runner-up in both races on the Guia Circuit to
oust BMW Team Deutschland driver Dirk Müller (GER) - who had
arrived in China as the World Championship leader - from the top of the
drivers' rankings. After 20 races Priaulx had a tally of 101 points,
followed by Dirk Müller in second place with 86. In the
Manufacturers' World Championship, too, the drivers of the BMW national
teams made the victory complete. In that classification, BMW scored 273
to carve out a lead of 37 points, relegating Alfa Romeo into second
place. Among the private entrants, it was a BMW driver again who came
out on top: all Marc Hennerici (GER) needed was a third-placed finish
in the first race to defend his lead in the Independents Trophy. After
1987, when Roberto Ravaglia (ITA) driving a BMW M3 won the first World
Championship title in touring car racing, BMW has now also triumphed in
the new edition of the World Championship. The first race on the
6.2-kilometre city circuit was won by Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA) ahead of
Priaulx and Rickard Rydell (SWE). Dirk Müller was unlucky on the
last lap, when a damaged drive shaft set him back from fourth to tenth
place. The winner of the second race was Duncan Huisman (NLD) of BMW
Team Holland, who beat Priaulx and Alain Menu (SUI). As Dirk
Müller had already been forced to retire from lap three after an
accident, Priaulx was able to secure an early claim to the World
Championship title. Alfa Romeo driver Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), who
had also come to the event in the former Portuguese colony with title
chances, had to retire after an accident in the first race. In winning
the World Championship, BMW has further boosted its impressive record
in touring car racing. Apart from the two World Championship titles, it
has a total of 24 European Championship wins under its belt. In 2005,
the BMW 320i dominated the scene. In its farewell season it helped BMW
drivers to claim a total of nine wins, four poles and eleven fastest
laps. 2006 will see the new BMW 320si, the race version of the special
model of the same name, being fielded in the WTCC. It is set to
continue the success story of the BMW 3 Series in touring car racing.
In Priaulx' case, it was consistency that proved the key to success. He
made it onto the podium eleven times and used every opportunity to
collect valuable World Championship points. In Oschersleben he managed
to take a race win. While Dirk Müller long led the drivers'
rankings, the racing driver from Guernsey in the Channel Islands
remained hot on his tail. In Istanbul, Priaulx managed to overtake his
fellow BMW driver, but he fought back in Valencia to reclaim the lead.
Thus the winner wasn't decided until the 52nd Macau Grand Prix.
Reactions: Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):
"Congratulations to Andy Priaulx on winning the World Championship
title. Duncan Huisman has also achieved a great result by winning the
second race. For BMW it has been a fantastic weekend in which we have
not only won the Drivers' title but also taken victory in the
Manufacturers' Championship and the privateer classification. I am
delighted that, with Roberto Ravaglia and Andy Priaulx, we have the old
and the new World Touring Car Champion with us." Andy Priaulx
(BMW Team UK): "At last the pressure's off. After winning pole on
Friday, I knew that I had achieved ten percent of the task at most. The
first race was tough. Rickard Rydell behind me was pushing hard, and I
had a duel with Augusto Farfus. When I found out in the second race
that Dirk had retired, I was free to fight Duncan. Overall, this season
has been even more difficult than the 2004 ETCC. I had the feeling that
I was better on my bad days than last year, but not as good as I could
have been on my good days. Even so, I've made it. I'd like to thank BMW
and the RBM team, who have once again done a perfect job of preparing
my car today." Bart Mampaey (Team Manager, BMW Team UK):
"Andy has put in an incredible season. Pole position here in Macau
is the safest place to be as a driver. After a second-placed finish in
the first race, it put him in a position to pave the way for the title
win. But Duncan's success has also shown that he is among the best
drivers here in Macau. The one-two win and Andy's title are a
tremendous result for BMW and RBM - and the reward for our hard
work." Dirk Müller (BMW Team Deutschland): "This result
is very disappointing. I lost the World Championship in the first race.
My drive shaft broke - and basically that was the end of it. I warmly
congratulate Andy, he has put in a great performance. Even so, our team
had a great year, but now I'm looking forward to getting back
home." Duncan Huisman (BMW Team Holland): "In Macau it was
my job to support BMW in winning the World Touring Car Championship.
Obviously I'm really pleased that I managed to do so by winning a race.
It was great fun being involved here again. At the start of the weekend
I was very unlucky, and the balance of my car wasn't ideal. But in time
for the second race I managed to exploit the car's potential to the
full." Results BMW Team Deutschland - Schnitzer Motorsport No.
42 - Jörg Müller (GER) Grid: 10th - Races: DNF and not
started No. 43 - Dirk Müller (GER) Grid: 5th - Races: 10th and DNF
BMW Team UK - RBM No. 1 - Andy Priaulx (GBR) Grid: 1st
- Races: both 2nd BMW Team Italy-Spain - ROAL Motorsport No. 4 - Alex
Zanardi (ITA) Grid: 24th - Races: 13th and 5th No. 5 - Antonio Garcia
(ESP) Grid: 11th - Races: 9th and DNS BMW Team Holland
- RBM No. 41 - Duncan Huisman (NLD) Grid: 15th - Races: 6th and 1st BMW
private teams Crawford Racing- No. 28 - Carl Rosenblad (SWE) Races:
12th and DNF Proteam Motorsport - No. 30 - Stefano d'Aste (ITA) Races:
11th and DNF - No. 31 - Giuseppe Ciro (ITA) Races: DNF
and 9th Wiechers-Sport- No. 32 - Marc Hennerici (GER) Races: 14th and
DNF Engstler Motorsport - No. 64 - Peter Scharmach (GER) Races: 16th
and DNF Results Race 1: 1st Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo), 2nd
Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +0.496 seconds, 3rd Rickard Rydell
(SWE/SEAT) +1.202, 4th Nicola Larini (ITA/Chevrolet) +2.729, 5th Alain
Menu (SUI/Chevrolet) +13.706, 6th Duncan Huisman (NLD/BMW 320i)
+14.287, 7th James Thompson (GBR/Alfa Romeo) +14.440, 8th Peter Terting
(GER/SEAT) +15.172 Results Race 2: 1st Duncan Huisman (NLD/BMW 320i),
2nd Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +0.257 seconds, 3rd Alain Menu
(SUI/Chevrolet) +1.253, 4th Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo) +2.428,
5th Alessandro Zanardi (ITA/BMW 320i) +3.179, 6th Jordi Gene (ESP/SEAT)
+3.575, 7th Peter Terting (GER/SEAT) +4.193, 8th Rickard Rydell
(SWE/SEAT) +4.969 2005 Drivers' Championship: 1st Andy Priaulx 101
points, 2nd Dirk Müller 86, 3rd Fabrizio Giovanardi 81, 4th
Augusto Farfus jr. 64, 5th Jörg Müller 59, 6th Rickard Rydell
56, 7th Gabriele Tarquini 55, 8th James Thompson 53, 9th Antonio Garcia
51, 10th Alessandro Zanardi 35 2005 Manufacturers' Championship:
1st BMW 273 points 2nd Alfa Romeo 236 3rd SEAT 183 4th Chevrolet 73 5th
Ford 13 Interview with BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. The
2005 World Touring Car Championship is over. Are you happy with the way
the season has turned out? BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:
"The FIA WTCC has celebrated a successful comeback. The fact that
the championship wasn't decided until the season final and three
drivers were in contention for the title up to the end is impressive
testimony to the balanced nature of the series. Compared to the
European Touring Car Championship over recent years, the standard has
improved considerably, which also resulted in a better show for the
spectators." What pleases you more, winning the Drivers' or the
Manufacturers' title? Theissen: "For BMW it's a fantastic result
to have claimed victory in both World Championship classifications.
Also, we should not forget Marc Hennerici, who managed to secure the
Independents Trophy in a BMW 320i. Naturally the Drivers' title is
paramount for the racers. I am all the more delighted that Andy Priaulx
as one of our drivers has made it. Of course the Manufacturers' title
is also very important for us. In the 2003 and 2004 ETCC we already came
top in this category. The fact that we have been able to claim the same
success in the World Championship reflects the strength of the BMW
320i." How would you assess Andy Priaulx' performance? Theissen:
"Since his ETCC debut in 2003, Andy has persuaded us with his
consistently good performance. Last year he claimed the European
Championship title where, just as he did this year, he managed to keep
the upper hand in the contest with Dirk Müller. He has great
technical understanding and works tirelessly with his engineers to
improve his car. That's what marks him out. Along with his driving
prowess, his consistency and the support of the RBM Team, that quality
has earned him a well-deserved title." The FIA World Touring Car
Championship has been held twice, and on both occasions a BMW driver
took the title... Theissen: "Yes, in 1987 Roberto Ravaglia won the
championship in a BMW M3. Since then there have been a lot of changes
in touring car racing, but Roberto continues his successful involvement
as team manager of BMW Team Italy-Spain. He can be proud of what his
drivers Alessandro Zanardi and Antonio Garcia have achieved this year.
Alessandro won his first World Championship race in Oschersleben, which
was one of the highlights of the year." What are your
expectations for the FIA WTCC in the coming year? Theissen: "We
await the first race outing of the new BMW 320si with keen
anticipation. I'm convinced that this car will continue the longstanding
success story of the BMW 3 Series in touring car racing. From an
organisational point of view there will be a number of changes. The
2006 WTCC, for example, will no longer be held jointly with the FIA GT
Championship. We'll have to wait and see what impact this change has.
Overall, the championship has tremendous potential which must continue
to be exploited." Profile: World Touring Car Champion Andy
Priaulx. After winning the title in the 2004 FIA ETCC, Andy Priaulx has
proved again this season that he ranks among the world's best touring
car drivers. The BMW Team UK driver kept his nerve in a gripping season
final in Macau to secure the World Championship title. In doing so,
Priaulx becomes the heir of Roberto Ravaglia, who in 1987 won the last
World Touring Car Championship in a BMW M3. For the 31-year-old the
World Championship title represents the current climax of a textbook
career in touring car racing. In 2002 Priaulx contested his first
complete season in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and
immediately took a win and three pole positions. The following year he
made his debut for BMW Team Great Britain driving a BMW 320i in the
European Championship. He was fighting for the title up to the very
last and ended the season in third place with three race wins. Then in
2004 he managed to carry off the FIA ETCC title. The RBM team headed by
Bart Mampaey, which also fielded Priaulx' BMW 320i in the season just
past, speaks highly of the technical capabilities and motivation of the
racing driver based in the Channel Island of Guernsey. Even long after
practice or qualifying sessions were over, you could still see him
discussing improvements to his car with the engineers. And Priaulx was
usually spot-on with his suggestions. In the course of his career, the
family man has competed in virtually every conceivable racing machine -
from go-karts all the way to powerboats. Since 2005 Priaulx can also
claim to have taken a Formula One car to the limit. Over the year he
has carried out several tests for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team and also
impressed the engineers with his detailed and precise feedback. As if
the World Championship title and successful outings in the Formula One
racer weren't enough, Priaulx also won the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race
in May in a BMW M3 GTR. Alongside Duncan Huisman (NLD), Pedro Lamy
(PRT) and Boris Said (USA), the new BMW works driver demonstrated his
talent on the notorious North Loop as well. It would be no exaggeration
to say that Priaulx has just rounded off the perfect motor sport
season. Date/place of birth: 8th August 1974/Guernsey (Channel
Islands) Residence: Guernsey Marital status: married to Joanne, one
son, Sebastian, one daughter, Daniella Website:
www.andypriaulx.com 1984 kart races in the Channel Islands 1985-1990
Motocross 1990 1st place Motocross 250 cc Channel Islands Championship
1991-1995 hillclimb races 1995 1st place RAC MSA British Hillclimb
Champion with maximum points score and 14 wins over two seasons 1996
races in Formula Renault 1997 British Formula 3 Championship
scholarship 1998 races in Renault Spider Cup, one pole position, three
podiums; 2nd place in Formula Palmer Audi Winter series 1999 1st place
Renault Spider Cup, 13 wins from pole; BTCC test driver for Renault
Williams, Vauxhall and Ford Awards: BARC President's Cup
for Outstanding Achievement, Guernsey Ambassador of the Year
2000 British Formula 3 Championship for Renault UK, three podiums,
pole in Silverstone; F3 races in Macau and Korea for Manor Motorsport
2001 British Formula 3 Championship, two wins, two poles, ten podiums;
2nd place from pole in F3 Super Prix in Korea; F3 Grand
Prix in Macau; 2nd place and pole for Vauxhall in the BTCC 2002 5th
place British Touring Car Championship for Honda; competed in Australia
in the Bathurst 1000 and Queensland 500 endurance races (Holden TWR)
2003 3rd place FIA ETCC (BMW 320i), three wins 2004 1st place FIA ETCC
(BMW 320i), BMW Team Great Britain 2nd place Macau Grand
Prix - Guia Race Spa-Francorchamps 24-Hour Race (BMW M3
GTR) 2005 1st place FIA WTCC (BMW 320i), BMW Team UK 1st place
Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (BMW M3 GTR) Profile: BMW Team UK -
RBM. When Andy Priaulx won the 2004 European Touring Car Championship
for BMW Team Great Britain, fans and experts alike were amazed. The
comparatively small RBM team under the guidance of team manager Bart
Mampaey (BEL) had prevailed over far more experienced rivals and
celebrated its biggest motor racing success thus far. Under its new
name BMW Team UK, Priaulx and his crew have managed to substantiate the
brilliant achievement of the previous year by winning the first World
Touring Car Championship since 1987 in impressive style. The RBM team,
which is based in Mechelen, Belgium, made its FIA ETCC debut in 2002.
At the time, Mampaey's team was responsible for fielding the BMW 320i of
Fredrik Ekblom (SWE), which was flying the flag of BMW Team Belgium. A
year later Priaulx joined the team, which thenceforward battled for
points and victories under the banner of BMW Team Great Britain - and
with notable success: in his debut year, Priaulx already managed to
claim three European Championship race wins. In 2004 the driver, who
lives in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, went on to take the European
Touring Car crown. Within a short space of time, team manager Mampaey
had led his racing team to the peak of international touring car
racing. The Belgian's success was no accident. His father Julian ran
the Juma Racing Team in the 1970s and '80s, among whose achievements
were three wins with BMW in the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours. Mampaey
junior was always there and learnt at an early stage how to run a
racing team if you want to succeed. In 1998 he celebrated his first
major victory with the RBM team in Spa. After further stints in the FIA
GT Championship, the American Le Mans Series, Schnitzer Motorsport and
Ravaglia Motorsport, Mampaey eventually sent his own FIA ETCC team out
on to the race track in 2002. But the successful team manager and his
team have not only demonstrated their expertise in the ETCC and the
World Touring Car Championship. RBM is responsible, among other things,
for assembling the cars that are involved in the Belgian MINI
Challenge. The close bond and friendly relations between the team
members constitute one of the strengths of RBM. Priaulx and Mampaey
form a perfect duo. Both are meticulous at their work and only
satisfied when all problems have been resolved and all challenges
successfully mastered. This season once again, RBM has shown it is an
approach that bears fruit. Team manager: Bart Mampaey Address:
E. Walschaertstraat 2A, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium Phone/Fax: (+32) 15 42 30
00 / (+32) 15 42 11 08 Email:
bart.mampaey@juma.net.bmw.be Team members: 9 Founded:
1994 Major successes: 1994-1997 BMW Compact Cup 1997 1st and 2nd place
Group N Spa 24-Hour Race (BMW) 1998 1st place Spa 24-Hour Race (BMW Fina
Bastos Team) 1999 4th place Spa 24-Hour Race (Nissan) 2002 6th place FIA
ETCC (Fredrik Ekblom, BMW 320i) 2003 3rd place FIA ETCC Team
Championship (BMW 320i), 3rd place Drivers' Championship (Andy
Priaulx) 2004 1st place Drivers' Championship (Andy Priaulx) 3rd place
FIA ETCC Team Championship (BMW 320i) 2005 1st place FIA WTCC Drivers'
Championship (Andy Priaulx) 4th place FIA WTCC Team Championship (BMW
320i)