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Priaulx: Lewis has taken British attention.

Tuesday, 4th December 2007

WTCC title winner continues to live in the shadows.

World Touring Car Championship title winner Andy Priaulx admits he is happy to simply be recognised within the sport despite being over-looked for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Despite securing the WTCC title for the third successive season - making it four championships in as many years - the Guernseyman failed to make the ten person shortlist for the annual award, with F1 star Lewis Hamilton and World Superbike Champion James Toseland left to fly the flag for the motorsport community.

However, despite apparently seeing his achievements overlooked by a wider audience, the BMW Team UK driver admitted he wasn't bitter.

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"I've given up trying to educate people," he told Reuters. "I'm just doing this for my own reasons now. I get recognition from within the sport and that's enough.

"Lewis Hamilton has taken a lot of attention away from the other British drivers. I thought it would happen with Hamilton. He was driving for McLaren, a car that lucky enough was fast. I just expected it.

"People have got on the bandwagon. They did it with Jenson Button too but Jenson wasn't driving a championship-winning car...if he had he would have got the same kind of attention I'm sure. That's just the way it is.

"Motor racing is all about marketing and I guess you could say that's my biggest downfall if you like. I've always let my driving do the talking."

Despite previously testing Formula 1 machinery for both Williams and BMW, Priaulx added that he wasn't interested in following either Hamilton or Button into F1 – stating that he was more than happy to remain in touring car racing where any one of a number of drivers can be successful.

"In Formula One there are four cars and four drivers really who can win the championship, the rest are picking up the pieces and may win if they are extremely lucky but more than likely they won't," he said. "Then you have the wealthy drivers who are bringing in funding through nationality or connections.

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