Fresh from securing his second pole position of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Andy Priaulx told TCF that he feels more prepared to lead from the front at Knockhill.
Returning in style to the circuit he claimed victory at all the way back in 2002 with Honda, the West Surrey Racing driver left it very late to claim pole position from his BMW team-mate, Sam Tordoff.
“It just came down to squeezing that one lap out”, Priaulx told The Checkered Flag afterwards.
“I got it at the end; I knew the times would keep moving throughout the whole qualifying session, but that was a good lap for me.”
The triple World Touring Car Champion survived at least two minor excursions during the hard-fought session, admitting that he pushed to the limit for his second pole of the year.
He added: “I was right on the edge. There was never a wheel on the deck, so it was busy! It was very easy to nip the front and run straight off.”
A wise head, Priaulx also admits still that pole position is merely now seen as pure bragging rights, but is confident of converting pole into victory with added experience on the tricky softer Dunlop tyre compound.
“I’ve got 49 wins and I’d like to make it 50 tomorrow! I’ve been in this business way too long to know that pole position doesn’t guarantee a win.
“I honestly don’t think we’re as strong as we were at Croft, but I think we’re strong, in fact I know – why wouldn’t a rear-wheel drive car be round here?
“We’re driving with a really hard tyre which is hard to get working, but blah blah blah, I’m not going to whinge! I think we’ll have a good day tomorrow and to win here would mean a lot to me.
“I think that this track is pretty low-degradation. I hope we don’t get the Brands situation again but I know the soft tyres a lot more now.”
