Priaulx back on the prowl

Andy Priaulx brushed aside memories of his Brands Hatch by returning to winning ways at Oschersleben, giving new impetus to his World Touring Car Championship title defence.

The Guernsey-born driver left his home race a fortnight ago with just two points after throwing away victory with an uncharacteristic mistake, but he kept his head in Germany.

The reigning champion stormed through the field from ninth on the grid to win race one, holding off fellow BMW driver Dirk Muller by just over half a second as Rickard Rydell took third for Seat.

That briefly gave Priaulx the championship lead again after Yvan Muller failed to add to his total following a clash with Alex Zanardi but he quickly slipped back in race two.

With a reverse grid for that race, Priaulx started eighth and his heavy BMW, laden with success ballast, was unable to power him through the field this time, leaving him 10th.

Former British champion Yvan Muller clung on to eighth in his Seat to move level on points with Priaulx at the top of the standings as Jorg Muller won the race in a BMW from Augusto Farfus’ Alfa Romeo.

Today’s two races closed up the championship battle, which now sees six drivers separated by just two points.

Yorkshireman James Thompson is only two off the lead after taking a fifth and sixth for Seat while Dirk Muller’s third place in race two lifted him back into the title fight, just a point off the lead.

Chevrolet driver Rob Huff missed out on points by finishing 12th and ninth in the two races.