Priaulx prepares for battle

British BMW touring car star Andy Priaulx has warned that it will be tough to repeat his top three position in the European Touring Car Championship this year

Jan 8, 2004, 1:30 PM

Speaking at the AUTOSPORT International show, Priaulx, who races a BMW GB-backed 320I run by RBM, won three races in 2003 in his rookie season in the championship, and was also in the championship reckoning until the final round.

"It's going to be hard to better what I did last year," he said. "The pressure is on, but then again it was last year too. I'm really confident, because I'm with the same team, the same people. I've got another two years on my contract with BMW, and I'm really looking forward to it because now I know the circuit, and what makes the other drivers tick now."

The Guernseyman believes that the ETCC is the place to be at present, but has not ruled out a return to the BTCC, in which he raced in 2002 for Honda.

"The ETCC is getting bigger and it has a great future," he said. "I'd never turn my back on the BTCC, because it has been the championship in the past. But at the moment, I'd say the ETCC is the place to be."