Priaulx number signifies WTCC title haul
IT’S been eight long years since Andy Priaulx raced World Touring Cars, but this weekend in Morocco he’s back.
Priaulx can’t wait for a first competitive start in the Cyan Racing-prepared Lynk & Co 03 TCR.
‘I have some amazing memories of my years in the European and World Touring Car Championships, so I can’t wait to write another chapter in my history in these cars,’ he said after testing in Barcelona.
‘I know there will be some tough competition for me as the driver line-up is of a very high standard. I shall have to be on the pace from the word go.’
On his return to WTCC he has has a new race number, close to his old one.
‘For many years I raced with number 11 on my car and it is now 111, which stands for my three world championships. Also my design has the colour green and this is for Guernsey where I come from.’
But gone, of course, is the BMW and for life in the Lynk he is teaming up with his old friend and rival Yvan Muller, Yan Ehrlacher and Thed Björk.
The 2.971 Circuit Moulay El Hassan is a semi-permanent track in the city of Marrakech, which was transformed from a street circuit in 2016.
It has a spectacular backdrop of the Atlas Mountains and Priaulx has not raced on this particular track. But the city is not new to him, as he explained:
‘Back in 2010 I raced on the longer street circuit in the WTCC and won there. While this is a totally different track, I will certainly feel at home in a place where I stood on the top step of the podium.’
The itinerary for the WTCR Race of Morocco 2019 starts on Saturday with free practice and qualifying for the 18-lap first race starts 3.50pm Guernsey time.
On Sunday there will be a second qualifying ahead of race two, which is 18 laps starting at 3.45pm, and the 21-lap third race starts at 5.15.
The 10-round series ends in Malaysia on 15 December.
