ROUNDS 19 & 20 RACE QUOTES MACAU
Andy PRIAULX, BMW Team UK – 2nd in Race 1 and
2nd in Race 2
 2005
FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPION
“It is really just a strange feeling at the moment.
Macau is so special. To qualify on pole meant a lot but I
felt that only 10% of the work was done. After Race 1 was
over and I learnt Dirk had finished 10th and Giovanardi did
not finish, it looked good for me. The pressure was still
there though. It was great during the race when I heard I
was world champion. This year was harder than last year; it
really has been a tough season but I was always focused on
the end result. I feel we have been quick at important times
and this has been key.”
Dr Mario THEISSEN, BMW Motorsport Director
“There have only been two touring car world champions
and I am very happy that both were BMW drivers and Andy is
one of them. Last year when Andy won the ETCC we gave him
a test drive in a Formula 1 car as a gift. I think we will
now have to invent a whole new series because you can’t
better that.”
Augusto FARFUS, Alfa Romeo Racing – 1st in
Race 1 and 3rd in Race 2
“I feel really great that I have achieved my first
race win. It was my first time here and before we came, all
the other drivers kept saying ‘you wait, it’s
so difficult.’ I think it is the hardest track in the
championship but I learnt it fast and did my job. I have had
great fun this weekend.”
Duncan HUISMAN, BMW Team Holland – 6th in Race
1 and 1st in Race 2
“It’s good to be back in Macau. The fact that
I had no ballast was no disadvantage shall we say. I think
I had some bad luck. In qualifying it was so difficult to
get a good time with the red flags and then in Race 1 I hit
Giovanardi when he crashed. I was lucky to finish and in such
a position that enabled me to go on to win Race 2.”
Rickard RYDELL, SEAT Sport – 3rd in Race 1
and 7th in Race 2
“I’m not sure I could have won Race 1 because
the León is not that fast on the straight and it was
quite difficult. I had Dirk behind me so in order to stop
him from overtaking I had to go slow at the beginning of the
lap then push to get a gap before we hit the straight. I’m
really pleased with this result. Now we need to work on the
car a bit more for next year.”
Alain MENU, Chevrolet Racing – 5th in Race
1 and DSQ in Race 2
“This result is great for Chevrolet and the team. It
was our aim this season to finish on the podium and it has
finally been achieved, on the last race, and on a difficult
circuit. This championship is very competitive and as a newcomer
it has been tough for Chevrolet. We want to be fighting for
wins next year so there will be lots of hard work happening
over the winter.” NB – Menu was exluded, but the
team have appealed the decision
Stefano D’ASTE, Proteam Motorsport –
11th in Race 1 and DNF in Race 2
“I was involved in the accident at the start of Race
1 and was hit badly at the back of my car. For the whole race
I had bad pain in my back and it hurt to push the clutch,
which was especially problematic here because you have to
use it a lot. The car was good, the team was good, I am happy
with the win.”
Giuseppe CIRÒ, Proteam Motorsport –
DNF in Race 1 and 8th in Race 2
“This is a good result considering it is my first professional
championship at such a high level. To be honest I came here
with hopes of winning the independent trophy but after the
accident in Race 1 I knew this was not possible. However,
I have to give my thanks to my team and mechanics who enabled
me to go out and win in Race 2.”
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