Andy Priaulx awaiting BMW’s decision if he races at Rockingham

Andy Priaulx does not know what decision BMW will make when it comes to who drives at Rockingham, but will be happy with whatever the manufacturer decides to do.

The three-time World Touring Car Champion currently has a calendar clash between the British Touring Car Championship meeting at Rockingham and the European Le Mans Series event at Le Castellet, an issue that has been in the minds and on the lips of many people within the BTCC paddock since Priaulx joined West Surrey Racing in January.

A successful weekend for Priaulx at Knockhill saw the driver of the #111 BMW 125i move up to sixth in the drivers’ standings, and become the highest placed BMW driver, just two points ahead of team-mate Sam Tordoff.

Priaulx took pole in race one ahead of Tordoff, before driving to third place behind race-winning team-mate Rob Collard as Tordoff struggled on the harder Dunlop tyre. A fifth in race two and a fourth in race three, after being demoted from third with a post race penalty, saw Priaulx jump up to sixth in the standings and sit just 41 points away from championship leader Jason Plato.

“Overall I’ve had a stonking weekend,” said Priaulx. “I’ve had two podiums, although one’s now a fourth, but hey it’s two points, and I’ve closed the lead in the championship. I think in the last four races I’ve been the championship contender and had I not had those DNFs at the start of the year it’d look really juicy right now.”

However, the BTCC/ELMS clash is still the main issue for Priaulx, with talks expected to take place on Monday to decide whether he will compete at Rockingham or Le Castellet.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen at Rockingham,” he explained. “I need to have a word with BMW tomorrow [Monday], but I’m also fighting for that ELMS title. I want to keep BMW happy, I have to be honest, they’ve been brilliant to me for the past 15 years, if I could be in two places at once I would. It’s going to be difficult to choose but they are my employers. They’ll tell me – but hey which car to drive, what a lovely problem to have!”

Whichever choice BMW make, Priaulx made his intentions of continuing to chase the BTCC crown in the future, whether it be in 2015 or beyond.

“I think I have a really good chance in the future to fight for the title and I’ve proved that in the last four races. There is a realistic chance for me to win this championship, I’m the leading BMW. But it is what it is, I’ll just have a beer tonight and we’ll think about it.”