Andy Priaulx not sure what touring car future will hold

Andy Priaulx does not know what his future will look like beyond the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season, with his prospects of stringing together a serious title attack a key factor in whether he will remain in the series or not.

The triple world touring car champion is returning to the highest level of global tin-top racing this season after eight years away, but has generally struggled to adapt to the front-wheel-drive cars of the current WTCR era.

Priaulx has enjoyed an upturn in form in recent races, however, culminating in his first win of the year on the streets of Macau last weekend.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes after a Macau triumph the Briton labelled as “special”, the Lynk & Co Cyan Racing driver confirmed that coming back to world touring cars had not been a straightforward decision, and said his future in WTCR is currently unclear.

“I’ve taken a big risk to come back,” said the 2005, 2006 and 2007 WTCC champion. “Ten years I’ve been away. I’ve been very successful in those ten years and I have nothing to prove here. But I love racing. To come back and to learn front-wheel drive and to be humble, to improve my performance, it’s always about trying to grow my experience. When I do not feel that, then I will stop. At the moment I’m still motivated to win races.

“I don’t know what the future is for the moment, and also whether I want to commit to another season. I need to speak with my team and see what their level of commitment is towards me as well.”

Priaulx made it clear that any offer that could put him in a position to challenge at the front of the field would be carefully considered, adding that “if I have a serious chance to win the title, then I will come back.”

Priaulx currently sits 17th in the 2019 WTCR standings. Cyan Racing team-mates Yvan Muller, Thed Björk and Yann Ehrlacher are third, fourth and fifth.