VIDEO: Introducing Andy Priaulx
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| Andy Priaulx |
BACKGROUND
Triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx completes the driver line-up for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing WEC team. The close combat racing skills that Priaulx honed in Touring Cars will stand him in good stead for the fierce battles expected in the GTE Pro class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
FORD GT RACE PROGRAMME
- Ford launched a four-car Ford GT race program in January 2016
- All four will compete under the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing banner
- Two cars will race in the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and will be based in the United States and two will compete in the full FIA World Endurance Championship series and will be based in the United Kingdom
- The driver line-up for the two FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Ford GTs was announced on Tuesday, January 5
INTRODUCING ANDY
Andy Priaulx MBE is best known for his three FIA World Touring Car Championship titles but the British driver has also won the FIA European Touring Car Championship and triumphed at the Nürburgring 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour races. From the moment he took up karting at the age of 11 he has competed in almost every formula from Hillclimb to Formula 3 and onto touring cars and sportscars.
QUOTES
“I’ve been privileged to race at Le Mans in the past so I know what an incredible event it is, both on and off the track. To go there this year with Ford – as they celebrate 50 years since that famous Le Mans victory – will be extra special."
“The GTE Pro class is probably the most competitive class. It’s really close racing and you end up in a touring car-style battle for 24 hours. WEC is going places. It’s on the up. I think it has everything the fans want: fast cars, overtaking, and high quality drivers, teams and manufacturers."
“This programme has the potential to make history. Fifty years on from winning Le Mans, Ford is back, fighting against Ferrari and the other manufacturers at Le Mans."
“Winning is everything. When you’re second you’re the first of the losers."
DETAILS
Date of birth: 8 August 1973
Place of birth: Guernsey, UK
Nationality: British
Lives: Guernsey, UK
Marital Status: Married, 1 son, 1 daughter
Languages: English
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2015
- BMW M6 GTLM/3 Test Driver, BMW Motorsport
- BMW Z4 GTLM Driver, European Le Mans Series with BMW Team Marc VDS
- BMW NGTC Driver, British Touring Car Championship with BMW Team West Surrey Racing
- BMW Z4 GTD/3 Driver, Patron Endurance Championship of Tudor United Sports Car Championship with BMW Team Turner Motorsport
- Race of Champions Nations Cup winner
2014
- BMW Z4 GTLM Driver, Tudor United Sports Car Championship with BMW Team RLL
2013
- BMW M3 DTM Driver with BMW Team RMG
- V8 Supercars at Bathurst 1000 with Xbox Triple Eight Racing, top 10 finish
2012
- BMW M3 DTM Driver with BMW Team RBM
2011
- Intercontinental Le Mans Cup – GT Pro BMW M3 BMW Motorsport – Sebring 12hr win and third place at Le Mans 24 Hours with BMW Team Schnitzer
2010
- WTCC, FIA World Touring Car Championship. Fourth overall with six wins with BMW Team RBM
- V8 Supercars, Triple Eight Race Engineering – Winner International Driver Trophy and Race 2 Armor All Gold Coast 600
2009
- WTCC, FIA World Touring Car Championship. Fourth overall with six wins with BMW Team RBM
- Race of Champions Winner, Race of Champions Legends
2008
- WTCC BMW Team UK, FIA World Touring Car Championship. Fourth overall with 1 win with BMW Team RBM
- Honours: MBE for services to motorsport
2007
- WTCC BMW Team UK, FIA World Touring Car Championship. Champion with three wins with BMW Team RBM
- Honours: BRDC Gold Medal
2006
- WTCC BMW Team UK, FIA World Touring Car Championship. Champion with five wins, with BMW Team RBM
- Honours: BRDC Gregor Grant Trophy
2005
- WTCC BMW Team UK; FIA World Touring Car Championship. Champion with one win
- Nürburgring 24hrs Winner in BMW M3 GTR
- F1 Official test driver for BMW Williams F1 Team
- Honours: BRDC Gold Star BARC Gold Medal, Guernsey Ambassador of the Year, Channel Island Sports Personality of the Year, BBC SW Sports Personality of the Year
2004
- ETCC BMW Team GB; FIA European Touring Car Championship, Champion with five wins; Macau BMW Team Germany/Schnitzer Motorsport
- Honours: Autosport British Competition Driver of the Year, Channel Island Sports Personality of the Year, BBC SW Sports Personality of the Year
2003
- ETCC BMW Team GB, European Touring Car Championship, 3rd overall with 3 wins; Macau BMW Motorsport / Carley Motors
- Honours: BMW Sports Trophy for non-works BMW drivers
2002
- Australia HRT Holden Kmart Racing
- BTCC Honda Racing UK. 5th overall with 1 win
2001
- Intl. F3 overall 2nd in Korean Super Prix
- Top British driver in Macau GP in sixth place overall
- British F3 Alan Docking Racing, sixth overall with two race wins
2000
- British F3 Team Renault UK, replacing Jenson Button
- Intl. F3 Manor Motorsport
- Macau GP, ninth and eighth in races
- Korean GP, top British driver in qualifying, DNF in race
1999
- Renault Spiders Team Mardi Gras, Champion Renault Spider driver of all time
- BTCC Test drives for Renault, Vauxhall and Ford
- Honours: Autosport/BRDC Club Driver of the Year, BARC President’s Cup for Outstanding Achievement, Guernsey Ambassador of the Year
1998
- Formula Palmer Audi Winter series, second place overall
- Renault Spiders Team Mardi Gras (part season) (Renault Spider Cup was forerunner to current Renault Clio Championship); Offered Nissan touring car test
1997
- British F3 Speedsport/TOMS GB
1996
- Formula Renault Startline Racing (part season)
1995
- British F1 Hillclimbing RAC/MSA British Champion with 10 wins, eight lap records in 10 events
- Honours: Nominated for BRDC Driver of the Year. HSA Driver of the Year. Offered drive with Paul Stewart Racing
1993/4
- British Hillclimbing Driver of the Year, two wins
1991/2
- Clubmans Hillclimbing Channel Islands champion, two lap records