Priaulx takes trio of titles

Andy Priaulx has completed an amazing hat-trick of World Touring Car Championship titles.

Starting from a daunting 12th on the grid in race one of the final round in Macau, BMW star Priaulx's title dreams were on the line.

In particular as his main rival for the crown in Yvan Muller, with the duo level on points, was 10 places ahead of him in his SEAT.

With two laps remaining of the opening nine-lap race around the tight, twisty 6.120km street circuit, Muller had the championship in his grasp as he held the lead.

But the Frenchman suffered a fuel pump failure, while another of the title challengers in fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus crashed into the barriers on the final lap when running in second place.

That allowed Priaulx to finish eighth, and with it claim the vital pole position in race two in which he led from start to finish.

With Muller's problem unrepairable for the second race, it enabled Priaulx to finish 11 points clear in the final standings, with Britain's James Thompson third overall in his Alfa Romeo.

It was a very emotional Priaulx who emerged from his car after the final race of what has been a turbulent season, he said: "I never give up, but I knew it needed something special to win this title for the third time.

"I have now been in a championship-winning position in the final race of the season for five years in a row. We all know you need a bit of luck to win a championship, but also you have to be there to take the luck, and it was my lucky day.

"I had some amazing people around me giving me motivation. The car was reliable, the team was reliable, and that is also an important key to winning the championship."