Andy Priaulx could join Sam Tordoff at West Surrey Racing

Triple world champion Andy Priaulx could be in line to join Sam Tordoff at West Surrey Racing for the 2015 BTCC.

Priaulx, who won the WTCC in 2005, 2006 and 2007, has already confirmed an ELMS programme with Marc VDS, but is believed to be looking at dovetailing this with another series.

TouringCarTimes understands Priaulx has also been looking at options to return to the WTCC, and has most recently been linked with Münnich Motorsport.

And West Surrey Racing boss Dick Bennetts confirmed in Motorsport News that he has spoken with the Guernseyman about the prospect of joining the reigning teams’ champions on British shores. Current champion Colin Turkington’s future with the team has been cast into doubt by the withdrawal of title sponsor eBay last week.

The already-confirmed Tordoff tested the BMW 125i M-Sport at Brands Hatch today, and spoke to MSV about the prospect of having Priaulx as his team mate.

He said: “It would be lovely. I’m not sure whether there’s any truth in that rumour, and I don’t know Andy personally, but I wouldn’t shy away from that at all. He’s a factory BMW driver, there’s no-one better to learn off than him.”

But he added: “I can understand why Colin’s done such a good job, but also he’s won the championship because he’s very good and I think for my benefit I want him in the seat alongside me. I’m not scared of having a quick team-mate – I’ve had Jason for the last two years, and I think it would bring me on as a driver, so I want Colin to be back.”

The main potential sticking point for a touring car return for Priaulx is that both the WTCC and BTCC have some clashes with his ELMS commitments. The Nürburgring and Vila Real rounds of the WTCC are scheduled against the ELMS rounds at Imola in May and the Red Bull Ring in July respectively, while the BTCC’s Rockingham race weekend clashes with the penultimate round of the ELMS season at Paul Ricard in September.