We’ve both had the same kind of experience in DTM, Joey and I, but I had a nicer experience with better results. DTM teaches you to be very strong inside and can improve your skills as a driver, but doesn’t fully showcase your potential. It’s so close and so tight that so many things can influence it and your performance, which is out of your control.
You’re now joining BMW Sport Trophy Marc VDS for this season’s European Le Mans Series campaign, who took top honours in the GTC class last year with Markus Pattalta. How did that come about?
BMW Motorsport are very serious about the European Le Mans Series. I went to see them in Munich and they are very motivated about it. That’s what they had planned for me to get the offer and do this, along with the development of the new M6.
Which is coming out next year.
Yes, it is. It’s an important program, which brings me back to Europe and alongside the other commitments, and they are well aware of my links with BMW UK, which was a no-brainer for us. With me over in America and Joey in Europe, it didn’t seem to make sense, so I kind of knew that it was on the cards.
I was grateful for my time over in America, but going to ELMS is a series that is going from strength to strength. With the goals we have, it is the perfect place to be.
Especially when Jens Marquardt is pushing ahead very hard with the Customer Racing program and the brand’s awareness to expand it on a global scale.
This is the case when you see teams like RLL and Turner Motorsport, who you will driving with alongside Markus and Michael Marcal in Daytona, which I believe will be in the four races for the Patron North American Endurance Championship?
I may be competing in two, maybe three of those races, but customer racing is brilliant for BMW, especially with the job that Turner did last season, winning the title and races too. In the GTLM class, there wasn’t the competitiveness due to the regulations and with a car that is two seasons old.
RLL are a great team, as they have a lot of guys in the operation, so to be getting the chance to race in BTCC, ELMS and back in America is a complete perfect scenario for me, where I’m doing a bit of everything.
So when you’re back over in the States, you can do what you said in ADRENALIN: “Surf big waves, ride motorbikes and drive fast cars.” Well, you’re going to be driving a lot of fast cars this year…
I’ll driving a lot of fast cars, and I’m surfing on the crest of a wave at the moment, so I’m a really happy Andy Priaulx.