relationship with BMW as a works driver. Andy
claims that the choice was a “tough one” and
one he hopes “works out.” “Me and BMW
just jelled so well, it was a shame it
ended” he says.
The WEC paddock Is full of drivers who have raced in many categories, From F1, DTM and Formula E, but not many come from BTCC like BMW star Andy Priaulx has. For 2016, BTCC and GT LM star Andy left the West Surry Racing and team RLR to switch to full time sports car racing with Ford Performance. He would be pared with some of the best LMP1/2 drivers around, in a brand new race programe with Ford.
This also marks the return of Ford to endurance racing too, who last competed in the 1960’s, with the ever famous Ford GT. For 2016, Ford are using its new hyper car, the GT, and will race among Ferrari, Corvette and Aston Martin in GTE Pro with drivers Priaulx, Mucke, Pla, Johnson, Tincknell and Franchitti under US team Chip Ganassi racing. For a full technical review of the car, click here.
And says “it was a no brainier for me, when the offer came through from Ford, to contest the new GT Ford, I took it with both hands.” It’s not like Andy is new to sports cars, as for the past 2 years he raced with Team RLR in the IMSA endurance series. Andy was one of the start driver in the BMW Z4, and is a big asset to loose for 2016 for the team. And before that Andy raced in DTM and WTCC, thus picking up more antics of close combat racing.
One of the biggest decisions was to leave BMW for Ford. For most drivers there is not much love lost. But for Andy however, it was much more. “It was a pure sporting decision, when I saw the program, I knew I had to take it. This meant that Andy would break his 14 year
Images: Richard Washbrooke