Priaulx primed for tough test

Date published : 02 Jul 2010 - 15:33:50

Andy Priaulx believes his BMW team have a tough weekend ahead as the World Touring Car Championship heads to Portugal after they struggled to get in any dry running during testing.

Three-time world champion Priaulx currently lies third in the standings after four rounds, 23 points behind series leader Yvan Muller, and was a race winner last time out at Zolder in Belgium. The Guernseyman and his RBM team have previously tested at Portimao ahead of this weekend's racing, but their efforts to establish a set-up were hampered by wet conditions on both occasions.

"In Portimao we are in virgin territory, although we have tested there twice," Priaulx said. "However, then it rained, so the data will not necessarily be helpful. For us the weekend will be a major challenge for the circuit has a lot of uphill sections which follow slow corners."

He added: "These conditions do not really suit our car. However, I still plan to collect as many points as possible.

"That is crucial, for they will keep me in the championship hunt and give me a good starting point for the races in Brands Hatch and Brno.

"A lot of race weekends in a short space of time now face us. We are approaching this task with total concentration and a lot of confidence."

motorsportuk on Facebook