Priaulx says he is powerless to make his car go faster (Getty)

Guernsey's double World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx says his car is not fast enough for him to retain his title for a third time.

Priaulx's best finish was ninth in the WTCC's last round in Brno on Sunday, although he did get into the points after another car was disqualified.

"We're not fast enough, it's as simple as that," Priaulx told BBC Guernsey.

"I can't do anything about it, I'm powerless. All I have to do is drive my very best."

He added: "If that means I finish ninth but I've driven my very best race then I need to pat myself on the back."

Priaulx is currently fourth in the standings, 24 points behind the leader Gabriele Tarquini.

We've definitely got some inconsistencies we're trying to work on Andy Priaulx

And he says he and his crew are at a loss to explain his erratic form, which has seen him win one race this season.

He said: "We can be massively quick like we were in the tests, do exactly the same thing with the car at the same track temperature at the same time and be absolutely off the pace.

"We've definitely got some inconsistencies we're trying to work on and trying to understand."