Priaux "retires from touring car racing"

Everyone just seemed to overlook this one yesterday, maybe nobody took it on a level of seriousness...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9259838.stm

...because theres better things than the WTCC and we're all knowing where he is going.

DTM next year, Lemans ICC and nur 24? this year?

he ll be in dtm for sure

With BMW not going to DTM until 2012, that gives him a nice relaxing year, doesn't it? Three 24hr races for the season?

BMW has also come out and said they are not happy with the new NGTC rules and the way everyone is moving away from the 1.6 Turbo S2000 regs. Wonder if that's why we're seeing teams like Motorbase move away from the BMW, seems to be a major lack of support there.

Can only hope Alan Gow has some big ideas in the works for revamping the WTCC, I do like it, I try to follow it, and not having Eurosport, I can only watch the highlights package on ITV4, but it's really far too confusing, often needlessly so.

For me the most exciting point of the year was Colin Turkington taking the BMW by the scruff of the neck and really getting in amongst the big boys, only to be disqualified for the reason of being too successful - sorry, I mean the wrong type of car or something. The ballast weight rules were completely mental. And the tracks are uninspiring.

Unless we see Subaru or one of those long-touted works entries finally arrive, the only proper works entries are the 3 Chevrolets and a Volvo. Not good.

So with Priaulx retiring, Farfus gone and BMW pulling out, I hope that Mr Gow has a big book of WTCC recovery plans handy, cos he really has his work cut out.

Although, I am really looking forward to the Donington round in 2011, wonder if I can get time off for that one...

yea Maybe Nail in Coffin for WTCC, Shame really but new engine regs are not good for most major manfactures however ideal for ford, toyota etc (think about prestige of cars) BMW which looks better Le Mans or Racing agianst a done up Daweoooooooooooooooooo lol

DTM looks set to be the worlds dominant touring car formula in the next five years, and I cannot wait to see Priaulx in the ''new'' DTM which will hopefully be much more road relevant.

This new DTM saga with Europe, USA and Japan (and possibly Australia) will hopefully lead to a new ILMC-style calendar for Touring Cars, and once again, a world championship with big cars and big races (like Spa 24 Hours, Bathurst 1000, RAC Tourist Trophy) will be present while the domestic series in Europe have their ever popular Sprint formats and loyal fans

At the end of the day, I want to see big cars, professional teams and quality drivers. The DTM should provide for a while!

Did he not say he was "Retiring" from touring cars though?

the "T" in "DTM" doesnt stand for "Toffee"

I do like the idea that DTM is going to move away from silhouettes, even slightly, and that it's star is in ascendancy, with BMW confirmed and manufacturers like Opel and Nissan sniffing around.

But for me, DTM isn't touring cars. S2000 represents for me what Touring Cars are about, and NGTC by extension continues that. The biggest problem with S2000 is the expense, which up until a few years ago wasn't a huge issue, but then the global economic crisis hit motorsport hard. The real issue is the decidedly poor way the WTCC has been run, and that has helped nail the S2000 coffin closed.

I think what I am trying to say is we shouldn't be looking at a national series (and I know DTM is branching out to the US, etc.) to lead the way as the dominant formula. The WTCC is supposed to be the pinnacle of the Touring Cars, and it has fallen flat on its face of late.