Disappointing start for Priaulx

Priaulx's hopes in the opening race were dashed after a puncture

Guernsey's former World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx could only pick up two points from the opening weekend of the 2009 championship in Brazil.

The BMW driver finished seventh in race one to collect the points which leave him ninth in the overall standings.

Priaulx, who was originally ninth in race one, was promoted to seventh in after two disqualifications.

Despite starting second on the grid in race two he could not handle the wet conditions and finished ninth.

Seat drivers continued their dominance of the standings from last season, with 2008 champion Yvan Muller winning the first race and runner-up Gabriele Tarquini taking the second.

For some reason I just could not drive the car in the wet conditions and I was going backwards in race two

Andy Priaulx

The duo lead the standings with 15 points each, one ahead of Spain's Jordi Gene and Swedish driver Rickard Rydell.

"I was just relieved to finish race one despite a puncture and a deflating tyre, I was feeling pretty confident for race two from the front row of the grid," Priaulx said after the race.

"Sadly what I felt would be a good race for me turned into a nightmare. For some reason I just could not drive the car in the wet conditions and I was going backwards in race two.

"It was a shame as up to then I was happy with how things had gone, so I can't say everything is negative.

"It was just one of those things and now I am looking forward to Puebla."