It was thirteen years since Guernsey’s Andy Priaulx made his return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2015, driving in the Team IHG Rewards Club-backed BMW 1-series.
However, the 41-year-old, who departed from BMW Motorsport after a long association in December last year, admitted to TouringCars.net that he could return to the series in the future.
“The seat’s still warm for me there, after having such a good season in 2015, but I’m sad I’m not going to be a part of it, as I really enjoyed it.” he explained at the Autosport International Show on Saturday (16th January)
Priaulx showed that he is still able to compete with the very best, being a three-time WTCC champion in his own right. With Dick Bennets’ West Surrey Racing, he picked up two wins and two pole positions.
Even though he missed the Rockingham race weekend, due to clashing European Le Mans Series duties with Marc VDS Racing, he finished a credible eighth in the drivers’ standings, twenty points behind Ciceley Motorsport’s Adam Morgan.
He also said that in terms of touring car championships that “BTCC is a great place to be,” and congratulated the efforts that TOCA Series Director Alan Gow has made to keep the interest in a very competitive championship.
“IHG have been very honourable to the program, even though I’m not there,” he stated, as he wished new IHG driver Jack Goff the very best of luck in the colours that he raced in last year.
“BTCC is a great place to be. Commercially, Alan Gow has done a tremendous job. I’m sad I’m not going to be a part of it, as I really enjoyed the season.”
With Goff being the first confirmed driver for West Surrey Racing, there are still announcements pending on who will fill the other two seats for the forthcoming season.