Andy and his hero

ANDY PRIAULX has drawn inspiration for this weekend's Brands Hatch from meeting his hero Lance Armstrong yesterday.

The three-time FIA World Touring Car Champion faces a hectic time on Sunday when he races at his 'home' track in rounds 15 and 16 of this year's championship.

But yesterday he was in Tonnerre, which is two hours south of Paris, to meet Armstrong on the start line of stage 12 of the Tour de France.

'I am going to meet my hero Lance Armstrong,' said Priaulx (pictured) beforehand.

'I am as excited as I used to be as a kid on Christmas Eve waiting to find out what Father Christmas had brought me.

'I am now having to decide whether I shall be a true bobble hat and produce one of his books for him to sign or just be cool and shake his hand.

'I somehow think the former.'

Armstrong successfully overcame testicular cancer in the 1990s to win the Tour a record-breaking seven consecutive years, from 1999 to 2005.

The American retired after his 2005 victory but returned to competitive cycling in January this year.