Andy Priaulx described the 2006 World Touring Car Championship as a 'roller coaster', and that was putting it mildly. Extortionate levels of success ballast coupled with reverse grids and some rapid underdogs meant that nobody could make a break for the title, and nine drivers went to the season finale in with a chance.
In 2004, Priaulx went into the European Touring Car Championship finale in Dubai with an outside chance of the title. Somehow, it all fell into place, and a year later, in what was now the world championship, he mastered Macau to retain the number one for another year, despite only winning one race all season.
But a third title in a row would surely be asking too much. The WTCC isn't a championship that lacks talent, and surely the breaks were going to fall to someone else this time round.