VIDEO: Introducing Andy Priaulx

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 NÃ¼rburgring 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
NuÌˆrburgring 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