Priaulx has won the FIA Touring Car Championship three times

Dropping out of the first race of the final meeting of the season in Macau ensured Andy Priaulx finished fourth in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The Sarnian finished seventh in the second race, the last of the season, after starting in 22nd place.

Priaulx's chances of winning a fourth world title ended last week when points won in previous races in Japan were removed on a technicality.

The FIA ruled a sequential gearbox gave Priaulx's BMW team a weight advantage.

The decision meant championship leader Yvan Muller of Chevrolet could not be caught.

Priaulx said he found the decision hard to understand because BMW had been using the gearbox for some time.

"We ran the gearbox since Brands Hatch in July, and have been in constant discussion with the technical people as well. Obviously the stewards deemed it okay at the time, so it is very strange," he said.

"But I've had a great year anyway with six wins, and lots of really good results."

The FIA had previously said the gearboxes could be used, but overturned that decision in response to an appeal by Team Chevrolet.

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