Priaulx eyes BTCC swap

Priaulx took over the Egg-backed Vauxhall Astra of the banned Phil Bennett for both races last weekend and scored a second place in the sprint event before retiring with engine trouble in the feature race.

"I'm happy that I've been able to compete [with these guys]," Priaulx told this week's Autosport magazine. "By doing F3 I haven't taken myself down one route. I enjoy the BTCC scene and I want to be a professional driver - I can do that here."

Priaulx was not carrying the 60kg of success ballast that his Vauxhall team mates had, nevertheless bosses of Triple Eight Engineering, which runs the works and Egg Sport Astras, were suitably impressed by the Guernseyman.

"He did a good job for his first time out in the car," said Triple Eight managing director Roland Dane.

Bennett is due to be back behind the wheel for the Silverstone rounds of the BTCC in a week's time while Priaulx returns to F3 duty with his Alan Docking Racing team at Thruxton this weekend. He currently lies seventh in the championship standings.