Andy Priaulx says Nicky Catsburg was “using his car as a weapon of intent”

Andy Priaulx and Nicky Catsburg made contact towards the end of the first World Touring Car Cup race at Suzuka, leaving the British driver fuming.

The pair were dicing for position in the closing stages of the race when Catsburg’s Hyundai tagging the rear of Priaulx’s Lynk & Co going into turn one – putting the Briton off into the barriers.

“That was totally intentional to swap positions and then drive me off the road. That was the most unsporting thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Priaulx.

“He was using his car as a weapon of intent, that is super-dangerous. As a factory driver you shouldn’t be doing that kind of thing as an example for all the young drivers coming through.”

Norbert Michelisz had been behind Priaulx prior to the incident, with Catsburg getting past his Hyundai colleague two laps before the contact.

The Lynk & Co Cyan Racing driver was visibly upset after the incident, walking out to the track to show his displeasure to the Hyundai driver, who finished 14th.

“If I had killed a marshal, hurt myself or hit Yann (Ehrlacher) side on, who knows what that kind of driving behavior could have caused. I think that should be immediate exclusion for the rest of the season,” said Priaulx.

Catsburg meanwhile said he felt Priaulx was in the wrong, braking far too early for the corner and catching him unawares as a result.

“I don’t really know what Andy was thinking but he hit the brakes so unbelievably early,” he said. “I can’t really anticipate a driver doing something like that.

“It’s a real shame that he was so angry after the race, because I really like Andy. He was showing me the finger, I think it was because he wanted me to be P1.”

The result of the race is still preliminary and Catsburg expects both drivers to be summoned by the stewards.

“For sure, we will have to explain ourselves to the race director,” said Catsburg.

“I don’t want to have any bad blood with Andy. I like Andy, but now he thinks that I fired him off. I don’t see why he would say that, what would be my benefit to smash him off? We were fighting for nowhere. He is entitled to his opinion, but I think he is wrong.”