Andy Priaulx - the next F1 brit? (updated with test times)

[Sodemo]

I would really like to see Priaulx in F1 hopefully in a couple of years. I hope his imminent F1 test with Williams goes really well.
I for one would much rather be cheering on Priaulx than Jenson "erm" Button.

I have had the chance to speak to Priaulx on a few occasions while being at BTCC rounds back in 1999 and he is a genuinely all round "nice guy". We actually sat next to his Dad by chance at an Oulton Park meet back in 1999 and he was telling us how he started out racing.

[Raglanparade]

Priualx wont make it into F1 unless a team creates a car that has a roof.

He is always been the kinda guy u seem to picture racing tourers and sports cars. His Bathurst drives in the v8's have been nothing to show that he would be good in F1.

[garcon]

Priaulx is definitely a very talented driver in tintops, but that doesn't always convert to single seaters... anyone know what open wheel experience he has? I would think at this stage a Williams test would be no more than an interesting diversion, but who knows? If he puts in a fantastic session he could be the next great British hope... (it'd be nice to see him in an Aston at Le Mans instead though... )

[jase]

http://spirasolutions.co.uk/Andy_Priaulx/cv.htm

Andy is a real nice bloke,he has driven in single seaters longer than tintops. British F3 is as high as he made it in singleseaters full time so far.

[DavidStHubbins]

Since when has Bathurst been an indicator for driving talent!?

Andy is a top guy with lots of talent but F1 is probably out of the question - but who knows? He'll have a story to tell after driving that thing anyway. I worked with him at Silverstone and he is very professional and it would be great if somehow it all came about.

[garcon]

Great link Jase, thanks

Some good experience there, and good on Sir Frank for giving him a test.

[Adam43]

Yes, he did race single seaters until a few years ago when he made a couple of appearences in BTCC and did very well straight away IIRC. Then a couple of great years in ETCC hs seem him humble better teams and win the cahmpionship.

I wouldn't dismiss him as a 'touring car' driver (pointless in many ways), but I doubt this is a start of a F1 career. The test is presumably just a reward and treat from BMW, who have accepted him into the family.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by The Monster

I would really like to see Priaulx in F1 hopefully in a couple of years. I hope his imminent F1 test with Williams goes really well.
I for one would much rather be cheering on Priaulx than Jenson "erm" Button.

Why not cheer them both?

But even if the test is successful, I doubt he'd get the necessary superlicence. He's been in tin tops a bit too long. Comparisons with Kimi etc who came directly from an S/S background wouldn't work.

Anyway good luck to him I watched some of the ETCC and he was the star performer.

[Kicking-back]

Andy Priaulx would get a superlicence if he complete the required minimum amount of testing to a necessary standard.

A talented driver - but my gut feeling is he'll never race in F1.

[BootsOntheSide]

Andy did pretty well in F3, especially in the wet, although I'm not sure he's got what it takes to challenge in F1. He seems quite suited to touring cars, and should have a long and glorious career in the WTCC. If he does well in the test though, who knows?

[StickShift]

His best hope would be to become one of Williams/Michelin's 'secret' testers.

[Rich R]

he may be a little old for an f1 team to even consider using him for anything but testing, which is a shame because he has real talent.

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I don't think there's any shame of being labeled a tintop specialist, especially as this year the winner gets to call himself a World Champion again.

The BMW test is merely a 'thank you'. Seems standard practise these days for works drivers in other series to get a day out in the company's F1 car.

[N I Tram]

The snobbery against touring car racing on here is saddening. In touring cars you do a lot more head-to-head racing and have a lot more parity of hardware (and, at the same time, variety on the technical side) than in F1.

[Peter Mallett]

Agreed Martin, both codes deserve respect.

However they are also both very different.

[garcon]

I hadn't noticed any "snobbery" against touring cars to be honest, but a fair point anyway.

[BootsOntheSide]

If there is any snobbery against Touring Cars from F1 fans, it's certainly less than many have towards NASCAR, oval racing in general, and bike racing - all of which produced what was by most measures better racing in 2004. Winning a title in one of those championships is a much better indication that you were the year's best driver than it is in F1 (and this isn't meant as a dig at Michael, who is certainly the best in the world).

[Woolley]

Originally Posted by garcon

Priaulx is definitely a very talented driver in tintops, but that doesn't always convert to single seaters... anyone know what open wheel experience he has?

He was British Hillclimb champion in a car that accelerates quicker than an F1 and has superior brakes too. Top speed was lower because of gearing (There isn't a hill climb where you could get up to 190 if you wanted to) but it was at least equivalent to F1 in every other way. Anyone who saw him will tell you his ability behind the wheel of a single seater is without question, and that he would be more than capable of racing at that level.

I still doubt that he'll be given the chance, unfortunately.

Lovely bloke, too, hasn't forgotten his roots.

[maximus]

I love F1 the most but I love touring cars just as much because the races are so exciting. The same goes for Moto GP, the racing is much closer and exciting than F1 was last year.

I just can't stand Nascar or the Indy car series for some reason though, even though there may be more overtaking, its just cars going around and around and around.....

[Blackadder]

According to today's article in the Guernsey Press 'Patrick Head said that for them it will be a serious test.’ mmmmm maybe it's not just a thank you for 2004.

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/s...ticleID=012859

[BootsOntheSide]

His value to BMW's WTCC campaign is much greater than it could ever be to Williams, so the chance of him getting more than a reward test is pretty low.

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by Rich R

he may be a little old for an f1 team to even consider using him for anything but testing, which is a shame because he has real talent.

That's because now is natural to see 20-year old drivers as regular F1 racers. But, if he has the chance despite he's near his thirties, why you wouldn't let him to prove his value?
Remeber that Mark Webber started to race in F1 when he was 25 or 26, not-so-long ago.

[Kicking-back]

Damon Hill started his first Grand Prix at 31 and became World Champion.

[Steve Wilkinson]

Wooley is bang on!

Andy Priaulx was one of the TOP YOUNG Drivers in hillclimbing. Not only did he handle as much power as an F1 he also did it on tracks between 15 and 12 foot wide! If you want to gauge how talented the current crop of young hillclimbers like ADAM FLEETWOOD and WILL MASON are, then pop along to Doune. Stand at the top of the section of track know as The Tunnel and be amazed!

Michael Schumacher would **** himself if asked to drive up Doune!

However I think this has all come too late for Andy. A genuine nice guy who deserved his break earlier and I suspect has missed the boat.

PS His Dad is a real character!

[touringlegend]

I wonder if Andy would even consider a Williams race seat if it was offered to him.

To me he's got a long and fulfilling career ahead of him at BMW in touring cars / sportscars, I just get the feeling to even consider F1 might well damage his career. What if it were to backfire ?