Motor racing is enjoying a real renaissance with Lewis Hamilton’s performance in F1 this season, but Great Britain already has a reigning motorsport World Champion, Andy Priaulx who will be racing at Brands Hatch on 23rd September. The World Touring Car Championships boast bumper to bumper racing, constant overtaking and high speed action, all in everyday cars.

Sunday 23rd of September sees real, recognisable car models from Seat, BMW, Alfa Romeo and Chevrolet screaming around Brands Hatch in the UK leg of the Championship. For a car to participate, at least 2,500 examples of the equivalent, base model road car must have been built in the previous 12 months. So it gives us the chance to see the potential of the car we might have sitting in our driveway, with slight modifications.

And there’s not one, not two but three British drivers currently placed in the top 10 of the drivers’ standings. Current World Champion, Brit Andy Priaulx is just one point behind the Brazilian Augusto Farfus Jr.

Joining us live in a rare opportunity is Andy Priaulx who will lead us through the ups and downs of the tour so far and how he plans to keep his FIA World Touring Car Champion title for a third year running. With behind the scenes footage from the pit and exclusive tales from the fast lane, you’d better hold on tight…

Andy Priaulx joins us live online on 20th September at 15.00 to tell us all about life in the fast lane.

H: Host
A: Andy Priaulx

H: Hello and welcome to the Motoring Show. Now, British sport per say might be a bit in the doldrums at the moment, but motor sport is very vibrant indeed. Partly of course due to Lewis Hamilton and what he's doing for Formula One, but majorly because of one man in particular, his name is Andy Priaulx, this weekend at Brands Hatch the latest round of the WTCC comes to town, Andy Priaulx's joining us, you can join in this chat as well, we're live and interactive, get your questions down into the box, click press and send and all the good ones we'll pick out and we'll get them on the air. Andy Priaulx's joining me, Andy, the competition this season is very feisty indeed, there's a little tussle between you and Augusto Farfus, are you confident?

A: Well I'm confident in myself but I've also got the fear of my competitors which I believe keeps me sharp. Yes I mean I look at the championship this year, and ok Farfus is one point ahead, but there's a number of drives that can still win and if you look at it, it's probably in a lot of ways more competitive than Formula 1 because you have at least 8 or 10 drivers that can win this championship still, and at least 12 or 13 drivers that can win races regularly, so it's very very tough, and you have reverse grids and ballast, you know it makes it pretty tough

H: Is the motivation to leave this legacy almost on the sport, I mean suddenly it's going to be very very difficult for people to match. I mean a three-time world champion, that level of consistency at that height of competition, it's going to take something pretty special for anything to overtake that

A: Yes I mean the way I look at it is you have, you know there's lots of drivers who've won races, there's quite a few drivers who've won championships but there's not many drivers who've won multiple championships, and those drivers tend to become legends after a while, you know look at Rossi and Michael Shumacher –

H: Is that what you want to be doing? Do you want to become a legend, a sporting legend?

A: Absolutely, my mother thinks I am already, so –

H: There are many people out there who think you're a sporting legend as it is at the moment. Don't forget we are live and interactive so you can get these questions in and we'll do our best to get them out and ask Andy – I mean we have had a couple of questions come in, one person has asked about the Shumacher – the Shumacher thing, you've been called the English Shumacher, I mean he dominated the sport, I mean seemingly forever – is that where you want to be, is that what you want for the next 4 or 5 years?

A: Well I'm told I'm actually much better looking but I don't know if that's true –

H: Well your wife is outside there, we can probably get her to –

A: I mean absolutely, I mean Michael Shumacher's been the – you know he is the target for any driver, you know his work ethic, you know his – the way he sort of regularly wins races, wins championships, drives teams – takes Ferrari from nowhere to success, and still Ferrari want him now to give them an overview on the direction of the car. I mean the guy was, you know a sensation and he would be my target yes

H: Ok we've got another question coming in here, this is from Belshi, yes you've said in one of the papers today “if you're beaten in the championship this year you'll have been beaten by regulations”, now do you want to expand on this a bit?

A: Yes I mean I find it quite amazing that you can have an engine change in the middle of the season

H: We're talking about the diesel engine?

A: Yes come out with you know a turbo diesel engine that suddenly is a second faster in qualifying than it was the race before, and there's nothing a driver can do about that, and you know that type of thing –

H: Have BMW not raised this with the FIA?

A: I'm sure they have, but I mean BMW are extremely committed to what they do and you know they're a very sensible manufacturer, the way they go about racing, they don't throw things at it, they do it properly in an engineering way and they build a good car right from the beginning

H: It's almost like you're being penalised for perfection – if you get it right they throw things in your way

A: That's right I do a feel a little bit like that. I think, you know BMW are so committed to this championship, the engineers have worked so hard to produce a race winning car, and then suddenly something like this can come along but – that's life but I still think it's very possible to win the championship

H: You see it's that little bit of extra motivation as well for you

A: Yes

H: The fact that look, you know they're just trying to chip me all the time here, so I'm just going to raise my level of performance

A: Sure. I heard Lewis Hamilton say it's one thing you know sort of leading a championship, but it's another thing also when you're chasing it, it's a lot easier to chase for a championship when you're leading a championship everybody's after you and aiming at you and looking at you all the time, it's a big pressure

H: I think someone's just said “Lewis who?” Let's talk about the car and that engine change, I mean seeing a turbo diesel, I mean for the laymen out in the street who will be sitting out there thinking you know, a turbo diesel, it should still be no match for what you've got under the bonnet of your car, I mean BMW have been well prepared in a fairly dominant position, I mean you know how can they come in and do that and would you like to see BMW use diesel engines to match it with turbo?

A: I'm sure if it's faster BMW will do it and it clearly is faster because SEAT are putting – all their drivers are now onto Turbo diesel engines. You've got to remember there's lots of rules and regulations around this championship, you're only allowed a certain sized valve in the valve and exhaust valve, you know you're restricted with the amount of air you can ram into the engine with an air box, so if you can force feed an engine with a turbo charge and force more air into the induction system then you're always going to produce more horse power, and a diesel engine is all about low down talk, you know a lot of circuits require great acceleration out of a corner and touring car is quite heavy, you know I mean it weighs over a tonne, 12, 1300 kilos, 1400 kilos, so that's a lot of weight to lug around and a diesel engine will just pull that nicely out of the corners, but it doesn't sound very nice. I mean I love the sound of my touring car, it's got a real bark about it, a 4 cylinder engine, normally aspirated engine sounds fantastic

H: Now. If you think there's a bit of fuss, a bit too much fuss around Formula 1 and you want to know a bit more about the WTCC, what it's about and why it's more exciting, why it's a motor sport for real men – take a look at this

Video footage

H: Well that's why it's as popular as it is, but it could be a bit more popular, I mean several people are sending in this same question saying, “I'm sick of all the fuss about Formula 1, why hasn't this sport got the coverage that it deserves?”

A: Ernie

H: Who?

A: I think that you know it's got lot to offer, touring cars, because there's lots of overtaking unlike Formula 1, unlike Formula 1 when you follow another car, if you're the leading car and you're trying to – another car's following you, actually suck that car along so you actually increase the speed of the car and it makes it easier to overtake

H: Watching you and Farfus last weekend, I mean it almost was like you were linked by a tow bar

A: Absolutely, yes. It's – motor racing's not supposed to be a contact sport but in touring cars you can nudge, and you know give each other a little love kiss occasionally

H: I mean it has been of enhancement these days, I mean people tend to rattle on as well about you know in Formula 1 they have cameras on here and cameras on there, but also they do the same WTTC and as you can see it, you can just see the wing coming across to touch, I mean it is fabulously exciting stuff

A: It is

H: And especially I mean if you get out there to watch it and sample the atmosphere

A: I mean, absolutely, you will go away a touring car fan. You've got 25 of – you know some of the best drivers in the world. You know a lot of these drivers have been in Formula 1 and are world class and you know it is sensational racing, you know if you come and watch at Paddock Hill Bend for instance you'll see 25 cars arriving there at exactly the same speed, 5 cars abreast and only room for 2

H: Only room for 2

A: You know that's the way it is. It's like NASCAR

H: We're still live and interactive so if you want to get a question in there's still time, there's still a few minutes to do so, just type the text in the box, send send and we will read out all the good ones. Now of course you've got a Paddock Bend, we've got Barry Sheen, we've got Mansell – I mean if you win a third title are you going to get a corner, a Priaulx bend or the Priaulx start or the Priaulx finish?

A: Well maybe Paddock –

H: Or the Priaulx track

A: Absolutely, that would be very nice but maybe Paddock Hill should be names the Andy Priaulx corner, you never know

H: If you're listening down there you want to get some more support in there. The Andy Priaulx corner. Now we've got another question come in – “do you have team orders with Farfus and Muller or are you free to compete?” unlike Formula 1 it's got on the end here.

A: Yes there is no team orders, Mario Tyson is the boss of BMW and he runs the Formula 1 team and he also runs the World Touring Car team, and he doesn't want team orders, he wants us to race, but in a fair way, so I'm not allowed to turn Farfus around or Yorg, but sometimes it does happen, you know you're all driving side by side –

H: But how can you tell, I mean nobody – it's like saying he didn't intend to give away a penalty or a free kick and it wasn't intentional, terribly sorry – you're not going to get a yellow card are you?

A: But they have all the camera angles, and at the end of the day one thing you learn as a driver, you're not bigger than the brand, and you know BMW pay my wages and I'm not likely to cause any conflicts there. In the 5 years I've driven for them I've never driven another BMW off the road, but I have overtaken BMWs and we have touched, but we've both come out the other side. But I have actually been driven off by other BMWs so that just goes to show at crucial times last year I was taken out of the race by another BMW so it just goes to show there's no team orders

H: Who are the up and coming manufacturers, the people to watch out for in coming years? I mean we know about the Straits to it, and the potential if there is a weakness in BMW – nobody's found it yet, but I mean who's to look out for?

A: Well at BMW at the moment isn't the strongest car because of the regulations so no manufacturer's going to come in and steamroll on the championship and win it, because you know the rules don't allow that so you've got the likes of Chevrolet now who are very serious outfit who are winning races and are challenging for the championship

H: I mean are – they've spotted a gap in the market haven't they, I mean they're looking at whose competing in terms of the manufacturers and they want to get a foothold – well basically on the retail side of this country, they want to sell Chevrolet cars in this country

A: Absolutely, I mean it's one of the cheapest world championships you could ever go into in terms of the cost for the manufacturer, I mean it's worldwide exposure, it's televised live, it has you know some of the best circuits in the world including McCall which is – you'll even talk to Formula 1 drivers they'll say that's one of their most favourite circuits they could ever drive on. We go to a lot of Formula 1 tracks all over the world and you know relatively inexpensive for a manufacturer, you can showcase your car, the car that you can come and buy, people can come and watch me on Sunday and drive in their BMW 3 series so they can relate to it, you know unlike a Formula 1 car with wings and you know all the latest aerodynamics – it looks more like a fighter jet than a racing car so people can relate to it, and it's very successful, it's proven in NASCAR, it's proven in Australia with VH Supercars, and people love racing and they want to see overtaking and they want to see characters

H: Question – I think we've already done this actually – “who do you want to finish second behind you in the championship?” I don't think you really care do you?

A: I don't care who's second as long as it's not me. Second is first of the losers and – I mean obviously BMW of course

H: Ok. Another one from Andy, this is again going back to the SEATs – “how much of a threat do you think the diesel SEATs are going to be this weekend and can you see diesel taking over from petrol in the future, in the coming years?”

A: I think so. I think that diesel will be very competitive around brands, it's a circuit with a lot of hills on the exit of a corner so you need low down grunt, I think it will be the way that the championship will go if they allow the regulations to do that. Obviously they're going green next year so we're going to have to run greener fuels anyway so diesel's obviously the natural progression there. But one thing I don't like about it is you can't hear it. It's a car that doesn't make a noise. You know as I say when my car rides at Paddock Hill Bend in 5th gear, it sounds like a racing car and it looks like a racing car. The diesel you can't even hear it arrive so all you can hear is the squeal of the tyres. That's about it.

H: Let's talk about – you did make one other comment in the lead-up to the weekend talking about the set-up o the gearboxes, you're not using a six speed sequential, you're just using a 5 speed

A: Yes

H: And the problem with that is for you what?

A: Compromise rations - on a 6 speed box you can cram more gears into the circuit basically, so I have to compromise between a third or maybe a fourth gear corner, so we're never going to be able to find the ideal solution whereas in a sequential box you could easily choose 4th and gear the car accordingly, so you're basically allowing less rev drop, more acceleration and on circuit like brands, it's always the way to go

H: Another question from Jonathan he says “hi I'm a huge fan of yours as well as being an island neighbour from Jersey. Wondering if you'll be driving any up coming tests for BMW Saab

A: I have it in my contract so I'm waiting for the phone to ring. I think you know Mario Tyson, the boss of BMW will realise is the commitment required in touring cars is the same as Formula 1 and you can't be distracted, especially at a time – now when it's so crucial, one point could make me a world champion or not, so it could happen at any time, I'd love to do it. I did 7 tests for them lat year and hopefully that will continue this year, we'll see

H: Did you ever have any burning desire – a secret desire to do Formula 1?

A: Absolutely

H: Did it ever occupy a part of your mind?

A: Yes absolutely, you have to aim for it, as a driver in the lower Formulas I aimed for Formula 1, otherwise I would have probably failed you know well short of where I am now. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motor sport; everybody wants to be there, drivers in particular. It's glamorous, you know you can make lots of money and you can drive great cars, but touring cars is superb. Outside of Formula 1 this is the best place to be

H: Now we've got a couple of your fans here, Eddie and Carlos on the – on the what? On the nocap, wants to know, he says “Andy we're going to be cheering you on mate, does it help having your usual mad set of supporters hanging around there willing you on or would you like to see the back of them?”

A: No it's great. I think my fans give me the mental edge over race weekends. It's great because you feel the emotion and you feel that you have to do something special for them, you know more than normal. I mean I'm already offering 100% anyway so –

H: You like to know that there are people out there that want you to do well and people that are trying –

A: Absolutely. It's brilliant for the sport as well, BMW UK come along and they see all these fans and the emotion of motor racing, because motor racing's all about emotion and you know it's great, I love having fans, I'm very motivated about this weekend at Brands, I'm really looking forward to driving there and I hope everybody turns out to come and watch because it's one of the most exciting sports in the world

H: What type of weather conditions are you praying for?

A: Whatever they throw at me. I don't mind. Rain, you know, whatever – I mean I can't choose it

H: Is it that you're so single-mindedly focused now it doesn't matter whether it's pouring with rain, you simply wouldn't notice anything?

A: No I can't change it and I don't waste my energy on things I can't change so I'm just focused on doing my best whatever the conditions are

H: Inside the mind of a champion here, this is how they work. Trevor now wants to know “is Brands Hatch the best circuit in the UK?” Well it's funny actually we were having that conversation beforehand weren't we?

A: Yes. I think what I like about Brands is it's very much like Alton Park – you know it's got character, you know it's got great features, cambered corners, roads dropping away, very narrow, great spectators, great for spectators, you know you're not pushed a million miles away, I mean Formula 1 is not allowed at Brands, it's just not safe enough which means the spectators and fans can get close. I think it's one of the best circuits in the UK for sure

H: You've had legends there, not only motor sport legends, Steve McQueen raced down there with Stirling Moss

A: Fantastic

H: He was in the middle of filming, filming a film in the ‘60s, he was a great motor sport fan and he turned up there.

A: That's brilliant

H: Now talking of legends, this is a question from Marco – what was your reaction to the news I mentioned, the same as everybody, the death of Colin McRae and did you know each other?

A: Yes absolutely, I knew Colin really well, more so in the last 2 years because we raced together at the race champions last year in Paris and we were planning to race together this year in the race for champions in Wembley, and I'm just devastated, devastated for his family, for his wife, you know and his daughter who have been left behind. It's a shock for British motor sport, it's a shock for world motor sport, a guy that was very humble off the track, an amazing talent on the track, you know the language of his car, the body language of his car when he was driving, you could see a guy who was committed 100% and nothing less, and you know could have been – was a world champion, could have been more times world champion, had the ability, and you know it was a big shock for motor sport and we're all devastated

H: Yes one of the nicest guys in the sport who will be missed by absolutely everybody. Well that brings us to a conclusion, and don't forget now if you cannot get down to Brands Hatch live to see the event yourself on Sunday there are options for you. To the Eurosport website via Yahoo you'll be able to see a live webcast of the event, and if you need a television set then it is live from midday on Eurosport, qualifying incidentally Eurosport 2 Saturday afternoon. From Andy Priaulx and from myself Tim Caple I hope you've enjoyed the show, for the moment bye bye.

Still got a question or comment?

Name

Your question Question