Heading into the final round of the year with a one point deficit to Müller, Priaulx anticipated a competitive scrap for the finish around the traditionally unpredictable streets of Macau, only to find his two second places and a double retirement for Müller was enough to give him a 15 point lead at the end of the year – the largest margin seen all season.
Indeed, 2005 was another year where Dirk saw the title slip through his fingers having been in a similar position in Dubai in 2004. Although he was more regular at the top of the podium than Priaulx with three wins at Monza, Imola and Spa, Müller also often found himself struggling more with added weight, something which stopped him from recording a healthy point’s haul at each round.
Nonetheless, the German showed himself to be a genuine title contender yet again and were it not for a disastrous Mexican round when he failed to score a single point, Müller could well have ended the year celebrating his maiden championship win.
It was a year of highs and lows for Schnitzer team mate Jörg Müller who took three wins in a season of inconsistency that prevented him from challenging for top honours. Indeed early on, Müller appeared to be the driver to beat following a convincing double win at the second round at Magny-Cours in France.
However, it was from this high that Müller experienced a dramatic low, scoring just eight points in the next six races. A strong end to the year included a win in Turkey but his ultimate reward was a disappointing fifth place overall.
If Müller’s year failed to meet expectations then Alessandro Zanardi’s certainly exceeded his own, the Italian arguably winning the award for the most significant moment of the year when he ended four years of a painful comeback trail with a stunning victory at Oschersleben.
