Priaulx has competed in many types of motorsport, beginning in karting at the minimum age of eight. After a brief flirtation with powerboat racing, he started hillclimbing while still a teenager. It was quickly apparent that he had great natural ability, and few people were surprised when he took the British Hillclimb Championship title in 1995.
After this, he made the switch to circuit racing, particularly British Formula 3. He had some success at this level, but despite finishing sixth in the championship in 2001 was unable to progress further up the single_seater ladder, so in 2002 he moved to the British Touring Car Championship to drive for the Honda works team. He won three races, and the following season was signed by BMW for their European Touring Car Championship effort. He was in contention for the title until late in the year, eventually finishing third.
2004 at last saw Priaulx win a major circuit racing championship, as he became ETCC champion after a season-long battle with Dirk Müller. Both men obtained the same number of points, but Priaulx had won five races as against Müller's three, and this was sufficient to hand the Guernseyman the title.
Priaulx won the title with a total of 101 points, with Dirk Muller of BMW Team Deutschland in second with 86 points and Fabrizio Giovanardi driving an Alfa Romeo in third place with 81 points.
Priaulx’s explanation of what this win means to him was: "This one is special as every year you win a championship it means a lot more than the one before.
Priaulx said that his success in Macau was down to his preparation for the event - where he knew that he needed to perform at his best if he was going to have any chance of success.
Priaulx has competed in many types of motorsport, beginning in karting at the minimum age of eight.
Priaulx also occasionally guested in Australian V8 Supercar racing, competing at the Bathurst 1000km in 2002 and 2003, and also the Sandown 500km in 2003.
Priaulx repeated his 2004 success in 2005, clinching the World Touring Car Championship (essentially the same series, with two races outside Europe) at the final round in Macau with two second place finishes.