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The BARC is the latest organization to recognize Andy's amazing achievements with the presentation of one of its prestigious Gold Star Awards at a recent ceremony. It was at the Big Night Out on the 4th February that Andy received this from BARC President, The Earl of March.
Triple FIA World Touring Car Champion racing driver Andy Priaulx was in London today to unveil of a set of stamps commemorating his title hat trick. Guernsey Post is issuing the special miniature sheet focussing on Andy’s three world titles with Andy being the only driver to take the three consecutive World Touring Car crowns. This is the second set in Andy’s honour following an issue celebrating his first world championship title.
PROFILE: ANDY PRIAULX MBE
PROFILE: ANDY PRIAULX - BMW TEAM UK DRIVER
2004 EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CHAMPION
TRIPLE WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPION 05/06/07
Channel Islands Sports Personality
For the second successive year Andy has been named the Total Oil CI Sports Personality of the Year. This award is voted for by fans from all the Channel Islands so are even more prestigious.
Double world touring car champion Andy Priaulx has been awarded with a Gregor Grant Trophy at the Autosport Awards on Sunday in London. The Briton, who captured his second crown at Macau last month, was presented with his award by Jean Alesi and Eddie Jordan.
After winning the title in the 2004 FIA ETCC, Andy Priaulx has proved again this season that he ranks among the world’s best touring car drivers. The BMW Team UK driver kept his nerve in a gripping season final in Macau to secure the World Championship title. In doing so, Priaulx becomes the heir of Roberto Ravaglia, who in 1987 won the last World Touring Car Championship in a BMW M3.
For the 31-year-old the World Championship title represents the current climax of a textbook career in touring car racing. In 2002 Priaulx contested his first complete season in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and immediately took a win and three pole positions. The following year he made his debut for BMW Team Great Britain driving a BMW 320i in the European Championship. He was fighting for the title up to the very last and ended the season in third place with three race wins. Then in 2004 he managed to carry off the FIA ETCC title.
The RBM team headed by Bart Mampaey, which also fielded Priaulx’ BMW 320i in the season just past, speaks highly of the technical capabilities and motivation of the racing driver based in the Channel Island of Guernsey. Even long after practice or qualifying sessions were over, you could still see him discussing improvements to his car with the engineers. And Priaulx was usually spot-on with his suggestions.
In the course of his career, the family man has competed in virtually every conceivable racing machine – from go-karts all the way to powerboats. Since 2005 Priaulx can also claim to have taken a Formula One car to the limit. Over the year he has carried out several tests for the BMW WilliamsF1 Team and also impressed the engineers with his detailed and precise feedback.
As if the World Championship title and successful outings in the Formula One racer weren’t enough, Priaulx also won the Nürburgring 24-Hour Race in May in a BMW M3 GTR. Alongside Duncan Huisman (NLD), Pedro Lamy (PRT) and Boris Said (USA), the new BMW works driver demonstrated his talent on the notorious North Loop as well. It would be no exaggeration to say that Priaulx has just rounded off the perfect motor sport season.
Date/place of birth: 8th August 1974/Guernsey (Channel Islands)
Residence: Guernsey,
Marital status: married to Joanne,
one son, Sebastian, one daughter,Daniella
Website: www.andypriaulx.com
1984 : Kart races in the Channel Islands
1985–1990 : Motocross
1990 : 1st place Motocross 250 cc Channel Islands Championship.
1991–1995 ; Hillclimb races.
1995 : 1st place RAC MSA British Hillclimb Champion with maximum points score and 14 wins over two seasons.
1996 : Races in Formula Renault.
1997 : British Formula 3 Championship scholarship.
1998 : Races in Renault Spider Cup, one pole position, three podiums;
2nd place in Formula Palmer Audi Winter series.
1999 : 1st place Renault Spider Cup, 13 wins from pole;
BTCC test driver for Renault Williams, Vauxhall and Ford.
Awards: BARC President’s Cup for Outstanding Achievement, Guernsey Ambassador of the Year.
2000 : British Formula 3 Championship for Renault UK,three podiums, pole in Silverstone;
F3 races in Macau and Korea for Manor Motorsport
2001 : British Formula 3 Championship, two wins, two poles, ten podiums;2nd place from pole in F3 Super Prix in Korea; F3 Grand Prix in Macau; 2nd place and pole for Vauxhall in the BTCC.
2002 : 5th place British Touring Car Championship for Honda;
competed in Australia in the Bathurst 1000 and Queensland 500 endurance races (Holden TWR).
2003 : 3rd place FIA ETCC (BMW 320i), three wins.
2004 : 1st place FIA ETCC (BMW 320i), BMW Team Great Britain.
2nd place Macau Grand Prix – Guia Race.
Spa-Francorchamps 24-Hour Race (BMW M3 GTR).
2005 : 1st place FIA WTCC (BMW 320i), BMW Team UK.
1st place Nürburgring 24-Hour Race (BMW M3 GTR).
2006 : WTCC : 1st place FIA WTCC (BMW 320si), BMW Team UK .
2007: WTCC : 1st place FIA WTCC (BMW 320si), BMW Team UK .
2008: Awarded the MBE the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Guernsey Post is delighted to announce that it will release 'Fast Track to World Champion' on 20 May 2006 to coincide with the British Round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
Sally Diamond, Head of the Guernsey Philatelic Bureau says; 'This is the first time Guernsey Post has focussed a set of six stamps on the career of a local sports person and we are delighted to able to celebrate our hero's fantastic achievements in such a unique way'.
Priaulx, who drives for BMW Team UK clinched the World Touring Car Championship crown in November 2005. This was the first time the prestigious series had been run since 1987 and Andy joined an elite group of just three drivers to win FIA world titles last year. He is currently leading the 2006 championship standings after securing wins in both the season opener in Monza (Italy) and the second weekend in Magny-Cours (France).
The set of Guernsey stamps feature highlights of Andy's career: British Hillclimb Championship; Renault Spider Cup; British Formula 3, 2004 European Touring Car Championship, N?rburgring 24 Hour Race in Germany and the 2005 World Touring Car Championship. A highly collectible sheetlet of six stamps accompanies the set and features a testimonial from former Formula 1 World Champion, Nigel Mansell, on Andy's achievements. Both stamps and sheetlets are available on special First Day Covers and Presentation Folders.
The stamps can be purchased directly from Guernsey Post through its website www.guernseystamps.com
Looking back on his success, which earned him an Autosport front cover as the 'Schumacher of touring cars', Priaulx said: "That meant a lot to me - firstly for Autosport to give me a front cover especially in touring cars. The Autosport guys have been brilliant this year, they have followed every race. But to be the Schumacher of touring cars is special. If I can't be in F1, then I wanted to be the Schumacher in whatever I could do. You are only as good as your weakest link in motorsport, so this is down to a lot of good people."
Priaulx said that his success in Macau was down to his preparation for the event - where he knew that he needed to perform at his best if he was going to have any chance of success.
"The problem with this championship is that it always goes to the last race, partly because there are so many good drivers, but also because of weight system and reverse grid," he explained. "I needed to work on my mind. I have a lot of respect for my competitors, but knew I had to do better. If I did my best race then I knew I had a chance."
The Gregor Grant Trophy - named after Autosport's founding editor - is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in motor sport. In the two previous years is was awarded to multiple rally world champion Carlos Sainz and to Bernie Ecclestone.
The racing achievements of Andy Priaulx have been recognised with the triple world champion's name appearing on the Queen's Birthday Honours List. In the list published on Saturday the Guernsey driver has been awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire).
“It is quite a surprise to receive an envelope with the official crest on. I was really taken aback and very honoured to read they wanted to bestow the MBE on me. I love my racing and am proud to carry the flags of both Guernsey and the UK on my car and overalls, so recognition of this sort is something really special,” said a delighted Priaulx.
He also paid tribute to all his loyal fans and supporters: “This honour is something I shall share with my family, whose support has made it possible for me to concentrate a hundred per cent on my chosen sport. I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those people who supported and believed in me from the first time I drove a car in anger. They are too many to mention and I would hate to leave a single person out, but I am sure they know who they are.”
14th June.08: Priaulx is awarded MBE
18th Jan 08 :
Guernsey Honours Andy with 2nd Set of Stamps
21st May 06 :
Andy's BMW 320si WTCC on display at Brands
20 th May 06 :
Guernsey Honours Andy with Set of Stamps
14th Feb 06 : BARC Gold Star Award for Andy
8th Feb 06 :
Andy named Channel Islands Sports Personality
3rd December 2006 :
Andy awarded with a Gregor Grant Trophy