Priaulx concedes title to Muller

The BMW driver now trails Chevrolet's Yvan Muller by 37 points with only 50 available from the final round in Macau.

That means a single third place will make Muller champion while Priaulx realistically has to take a double win and hope that his rival hits problems.

"I have to say well done to Yvan and to Chevrolet, because the championship is theirs now," Priaulx said.

"It's very frustrating to end things this way, but that's racing. I couldn't see anything because of the spray and just made a mistake on the straight, braked about five metres too late for a corner and spun off."

Muller, however, is well aware that anything can happen in Macau. In 2007 he was one lap away from the world title when a fuel pump failed in race one, handing Priaulx the initiative to rob him of the championship in race two.

"If the mathematics are still right then Andy can still catch me," the 2008 champion said. "I won't think it's over until it's definitely over."

The results at Okayama also put Chevrolet on the verge of the manufacturers' title. It is 72 points clear of BMW and 76 ahead of SEAT with only 86 on offer.