It was great to meet up with Jacques Villeneuve again too, as we have become good friends. Not only did I go and eat at his restaurant, Newtown, which was only a short walk from the Pit Lane Park, but I also spent a few days after the race with him. He took me and showed me parts of Canada I know I would not have seen without him. He was also showing his new wife, Johanna, Canada for the first time, so it was fun doing this with them.
Sadly, all too soon, the 'holiday' was over and it was back to work and on a plane to Curitiba. This is a short plane journey from Sao Paulo, but a very different place. I suppose the best way I can describe the track is a cross between Macau and the Puebla track in Mexico - narrow, with no run off areas, as several drivers found out during the races!
We were given an extra test session as, apart from a couple of locals, it was new to the majority of the
FIA WTCC drivers. I was fourth in the first session, but was already aware that I was most likely going to be surrounded by a sea of yellow SEATs. Of course, I also had to remember that Augusto Farfus Jr was a 'local', so he would be more competitive than usual due to his local knowledge.
Anyway, our first taste of Brazil was not all work, as we met lots of really enthusiastic local fans in an autograph signing session in the centre of town and then were invited by the local mayor to a cocktail party. We were treated very much like honoured guests.
As you all know how I went in the race, I shall now fast forward to what I have been up to since then. I was soon back in my WTCC car - and the F1 car - for the Goodwood Festival of Speed. By the time I got there, I knew the
BMW Sauber
F1.06 quite well, so was able to entertain the crowds well. It was fun, but I wish the hill was longer as I love driving the car.
![Andy Priaulx - BMW 320si [Pic credit: FIA WTCC]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/240070.jpg)
