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Andy Priaulx moves to BMW GT programme for 2014

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Andy Priaulx will leave the DTM next season and switch to the new-for-2014 United Sportscar Championship with BMW.

Priaulx won three World Touring Car Championships and one European Touring Car Championship with BMW, before switching to the DTM in 2012 when the Bavarian marque returned to the series after a 20 year absence.

However, success proved difficult for the Guernsey born driver in the DTM.

He finished 13th in his maiden 2012 DTM season with the Belgium based RBM team; the outfit with whom he took his previous WTCC and ETCC titles.

For 2013, he was moved to the new-for-2012 RMG outfit, which saw him and team-mate, 2011 DTM champion Martin Tomczyk, struggle.

Both drivers ended the season in 20th and 19th place with 10 points each.

His best DTM qualifying position was third at the 2013 Hockenheim season ender and had two best race finish of sixth.

At BMW’s end of season party, it was announced Priaulx would be leaving the DTM to join BMW’s GT programme with BMW’s Rahal Letterman-Lanigan racing team in the USCC which starts at Daytona on January 25 2014.

Priaulx has previously raced a BMW M3 GT2 in the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which saw him finish second in the series with one win at the Sebring season opener.

He also contested the GTE Pro category at the Le Mans 24 Hours with the same car in 2010 and 2011, with a best finish of third in the latter year.

“I had some great moments [in the DTM], and went out in style with my third place on the grid at the season finale in Hockenheim,” said Priaulx. “However, I did miss standing on the podium.

“That is something I am now determined to achieve on a regular basis again with RLL in the USCC.

“I still know the guys from my victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011 and am looking forward to this new and exciting challenge.”

Fellow BMW DTM driver, Dirk Werner, will also be moving to BMW’s endurance programme after two years with the Schnitzer team as team-mate to 2012 DTM champion, Bruno Spengler.

He, like Priaulx, also has previous experience of GT racing.

“I had two great years with Schnitzer and will always have fond memories of this time,” said Werner. “I am obviously disappointed to no longer be driving in the DTM.

“However, it is nice to remain part of the BMW family [and] I felt right at home on the endurance circuit prior to my time in the DTM.

“I am looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces again.”