Strong start for Priaulx

Even on an off day, Guernseyman Andy Priaulx had a strong result in the opening round of the 2007 WTCC series in Curitiba, Brazil.

Never entirely comfortable with the set-up of his BMW Team UK E90 320Si, Priaulx delivered a typically feisty drive and secured a second in both races behind Jorg Müller, and BMW newbie and home hero Augusto Farfus.

It's this kind of determination and consistency, even when the chips are down, that's made Priaulx a double WTCC champion.

Müller's lights-to-flag victory in race one was a breeze compared with the action back in the pack.

A tardy example of racing bottlenecking left a track littered with assorted Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet and Seat spare parts. Brit James Thompson, making his debut in the delicious Alfa 156, was one victim of this first corner crunch.

Proving that the E90 is the car to have in WTCC, BMW completed another lockdown of the podium in race two. Local boy Farfus took the chequer first, with Priaulx second and Müller third.

Seat and the other front-wheel-drive teams will be deeply worried about their chances in this year's championship - the BMWs look significantly faster in, oh, just about every area.

Priaulx, Müller and Farfus share the championship lead. The next WTCC race is at the stunning Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands on May 6.

© Source: article on topgear
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