Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen will be at Autosport International

By Tarek Ramchani

2013 Le Mans 24 Hours winners and FIA WEC world champions Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen will be at Autosport International this upcoming weekend.

The enthusiastic British race fans will have the privilege to meet two true legends at Audi. Allan McNish who recently announced his retirement from top level prototype racing is a fan favourite in the UK. Tom Kristensen known as Mr Le Mans (9 overall wins) is clearly the most popular driver in sportscar racing.

The world famous Birmingham based auto show will also feature the winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

Photo credit: Audi Media

FIA WEC: Parting at the pinnacle: Audi driver Allan McNish ends LMP career

Audi Press Release

•          Audi factory driver retires as World Champion and Le Mans winner
•          End of an exceptional career in top-caliber sport
•          Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “The end of a great career”

Ingolstadt, December 17, 2013 – One of the most successful and charismatic race drivers is leaving the grand stage of motorsport. A few days before his 44th birthday, Audi factory driver Allan McNish announced that he would not continue his active career in the 2014 season. 

The Scotsman began his very successful racing career 32 years ago in karting. McNish achieved many of his greatest victories since the 2000 season with Audi – most recently, the first World Championship title in his career at the wheel of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. “I found the ideal moment for myself to bring an end to my LMP sports-prototype racing with Audi,” says McNish. “Together with my team-mates Tom Kristensen and Loïc Duval I finished my most successful season in the sports car. Having also won the Le Mans 24 Hours, I can’t wish for more than what we’ve achieved this year. I can look back on a fantastic career that has left no aims unfinished and I’m looking forward to new challenges the future holds for me. Now I’ll have a lot more time for my family. But I’m going to continue to be part of motorsport in various roles, albeit no longer as an Audi race driver.”

Allan McNish will remain in close contact with Audi Sport and contribute his knowledge. “We appreciate and respect Allan’s decision to retire at the pinnacle of his career,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At the same time, this is a parting that is particularly difficult for us. All of us are well aware of Allan’s racing successes. We should not forget, though, how valuable he has been in the development of our race cars, how great a team player he has always been and how he has consistently applied himself to achieve Audi’s aims far beyond motorsport with professionalism, loyalty and commitment. We regret that Allan will no longer be contesting any races for us but are happy that he will continue to be associated with Audi Sport and the Audi brand.”

In the 2000 season, Allan McNish in the Audi R8 won the American Le Mans Series for the first time. In 2006 and 2007, in the Audi R10 TDI, he again celebrated title wins in the North American sports car series. Four overall victories in the Sebring 12 Hours complement his track record in North America. Two of his three successes in the Le Mans 24 Hours he celebrated with Audi in 2008 and 2013. The early title win in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Shanghai (China) five weeks ago marked the pinnacle of the Scotsman’s career, who had initially pursed a classic career in formula racing.

Except for the years of 2001 to 2003, when the racing pro with the physique of a jockey was active in Formula 1 as a test and race driver, he was competing for the four rings since 2000. He almost exclusively drove the company’s sports cars and in 2005 he was additionally active in the DTM. He is the only driver to have raced all sports cars ever made in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, from the Audi R8R to the R8, R10 TDI, R15 TDI, R18 TDI models and the R18 ultra through to the R18 e-tron quattro. He has recorded 29 overall victories, 18 pole positions, 17 fastest race laps and four title wins in eleven years, which makes him one of the most successful Audi sports car drivers. “Of course, we’re going to miss Allan in our driver line-up extremely,” says Chris Reinke, Project Manager LMP at Audi Sport. “But it’s typical of Allan that he’s also found a perfect point in time to end his career.” 

Photo credit: Audi Sport Communication / Media

FIA WEC: McNish In Maximum Attack Mode To Fulfil Lifelong World “Crown” Dream

Allan McNish Press Release

Dumfries-born Allan McNish is planning a mouth-watering Chinese “take-away” in Shanghai on Saturday (9 Nov) by becoming Scotland’s first ever sportscar world champion.

A fourth place finish or better in his hybrid-diesel Audi at the penultimate FIA World Endurance Championship round in China would make McNish Britain’s first sportscar world champion for 21 years.

“I’m not interested in any title permutations – my focus remains as it always is, to win the race,” confirmed McNish.

“Tom, Loïc and I are in a good [championship] position but I have been in motorsport long enough to know that it is never over until it’s over and so we’ll continue with our normal focus in Shanghai.”

McNish plus co-drivers Tom Kristensen (Den) and Loïc Duval (F) have already swept their pioneering Audi R18 e-tron quattro to three victories – including the Le Mans 24 Hours – and three second places in the six races run to date.

The Audi “factory” driver finished second on his debut at the 3.39-mile Grand Prix circuit located 30-miles north-west of Shanghai in the corresponding race last year that closed out the WEC season.

Whereas as he headed to Shanghai with a 16.5pt deficit 12 months ago, McNish starts this year’s Six Hours of Shanghai with a 40.75pt advantage and intent on winning his first-ever world title in his 20 plus year motor racing career with a race to spare.

Allan continued: “Our R18 didn’t really have the competitiveness we needed there in 2012 but the work Audi Sport did over the winter with the aerodynamics, the hybrid system and tyres has put us ahead of our rivals.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Shanghai as it was a circuit I enjoyed last year. It’s not necessarily one of my favourite circuits on the WEC calendar and while there are not that many fast corners, a driver can really ‘throw’ the car into them.

“Tom and I were fast there last year and we finished second. We were very close to pole-position just behind the Toyota and I think that it’s clear for us we go there to try and win.”

The Driver’s title can now only be won by one of the two Audi Sport Team Joest crews with 52pts still up for grabs in the remaining two races. Defending WEC champions Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F) as normal drive a second Audi R18 e-tron quattro in China.

“After last month’s Fuji race was abandoned and with no green flag laps having been run there, teams and drivers will carry over a lot of energy and desire from Japan to China,” said McNish.

“Toyota is entering two cars which is good news and that means it will be double the fight with them not to mention the ‘sister’ Audi which is still in the title hunt.”

Photo credit: Audi Media

FIA WEC: McNish Out To Turn The Screw On World Championship Title Assault

Allan McNish Press Release

Britain’s Allan McNish looks to take a step closer to becoming this year’s FIA World Endurance Champion by steering his “factory” hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro to victory in the Six Hours of Fuji in Japan on Sunday (20 Oct).

Dumfries-born McNish and his “factory” Audi co-drivers Tom Kristensen and Loïc Duval lead the eight race series by 33-points having scored an impressive three wins and two second places in the previous five races.

But still with 78pts up for grabs McNish, who missed out on last year’s World title by 13.5pts, is not taking anything for granted.

“Tom, Loïc and I have a clear objective in Japan - to win the race from pole-position like we did in the previous race in Texas,” commented McNish.

“That’s our objective but I’m also sure there is going to be very strong competition from Toyota and of course the ‘sister’ Audi so there is still a long way to go in terms of the title race but we’re looking forward to the fight.”

Audi’s double Le Mans 24 Hour race winning hybrid-diesel R18 is undefeated this season and while the McNish Audi will face stern competition from defending WEC champions Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F) in the “sister” Audi Sport Team Joest R18, arch rival Toyota enters two cars for its “home” race.

Allan continued: “The Audi’s aero ‘package’ is improved compared to last year’s R18, we worked hard last winter with our tyre partner Michelin while the hybrid and diesel engine have been refined, details that have combined to make us [Audi] very competitive so far this season.

“But our wining advantage was just 23 seconds after six hours of hard racing last time out in America so I fully expect Toyota, who are doubling up their efforts with a two-car entry, to be out for revenge especially on ‘home’ soil.

“With Loïc in our car this year, Tom and I can also benefit from local knowledge as he still races single-seaters in Japan.

“That experience could be very helpful especially as our main championship rivals are Marcel, André and Ben. André also still races regularly in Japan while Ben has previously raced over there so circuit knowledge will be important. I spent a lot of time in Japan in my early career but not so much at Fuji.”

In last year’s corresponding race around the 2.84-mile Fuji track that sits in the shadows of Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan and 60-miles south-west of Tokyo, the McNish/Kristensen Audi finished third.

“Last year’s corresponding race was the first time Tom and I had raced on the new configuration and it was a baptism of fire,” reflected McNish. “Our set-up was not ideal and it was a tough battle to finish third.

“Fuji is a track basically split into two main sectors. The first part is the old circuit and is fast and flowing. The second section is new, very slow and tricky.”

Photo credit: Audi Media

McNish Aims For Perfect Start To World Endurance Championship Title Assault

Allan McNish Press Release

Allan McNish begins his quest for the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship title in the season-opening six hour race at Silverstone on Sunday (14 April).

The Scotsman and Tom Kristensen (DK) are joined by Loïc Duval (F) in a hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro for all eight races spanning four continents including the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Dumfries-born McNish bids for his fourth and Audi’s fifth victory in the corresponding Silverstone race which sees the coveted Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy awarded to the race winners for the first time.

McNish commented: “This year’s race will have a different feel due to it [unusually] being the first round of the championship, the fact that it’s in April and the RAC Tourist Trophy is up for grabs.

“The weather is likely to play a key role. It’s going to be changeable with rain almost a certainty which would suit our R18 e-tron quattro. It will definitely be colder than what we’ve experienced at Silverstone in either late August or September making tyre choice more difficult.

“I’m looking forward to immediately getting stuck in to this year’s WEC and very excited to begin with a race on ‘home turf’ – I’ll be aiming to make it a perfect start.

“The outright race winners’ collect the RAC Tourist Trophy which has been an integral part of British motor racing for over 100 years. It would make me very proud to lift the trophy.

“It’s the first time it has been presented for a sports-prototype race at Silverstone while a Dane has never won it so Tom [Kristensen] will be determined as will of course our new co-driver Loïc Duval.”

2011 & ’12 Le Mans 24 Hour race winners and current FIA World Endurance Champions, Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D) and Benoît Tréluyer (F), “pilot” the second Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro.

Photo credit: Audi Media

McNish Knows Win In Japan Is Critical In World Championship Title Race

Allan McNish Press Release

Allan McNish contests the penultimate round of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship on Sunday (14 Oct) knowing that victory at Mount Fuji in Japan is critical in terms of the Scotsman’s title aspirations.

McNish and co-driver Tom Kristensen (Den) start the Fuji Six Hours 13.5-points behind Audi Sport team-mates Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F) after six of this season’s eight races.

Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen

McNish & Kristensen switched back to the hybrid diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro for the Bahrain race last month but a series of minor but time-consuming issues saw the Anglo-Danish combination finish second to the similar Audi of Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer which has now won three of the last four races.

Effectively, McNish and Kristensen must finish ahead of their “factory” Audi team-mates in Japan plus the China finale and ideally win the last two races.

“Tom and I could quite easily have been starting Fuji leading the championship but a series of problems delayed our car in Bahrain last month and ‘gifted’ Marcel, André and Ben another victory,” confirmed McNish.

“I’d started from pole-position and initially led but ultimately TK and I finished second – a fantastic 1-2 result for Audi but disappointing for me personally in terms of the title race so in Japan it’s win at all costs.”

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 12,389ft and is an active stratovolcano lying around 60-miles south-west of Tokyo with the 2.84-mile track nestling in its shadows. The Formula One World Championship was decided in James Hunt’s favour 36 years ago at Mount Fuji – the weather very wet with fog and running water at several places on the track.

Allan McNish driving the e-tron quattro since Bahrain

Allan continued: “I’m looking forward to going back to Japan. It’s a country I have spent a lot of time in previously – in the McLaren Formula One testing days in the early 1990s, sportscars at Suzuka (1997 & ’98) and the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka 2002 and then Friday F1 testing duties the following year.

“I’ve only driven on the newly revised [Fuji] circuit in an Audi R8 roadcar. The track still has character from the previous generation featuring a fast flowing first section. But a very technical and difficult last sector with camber and elevation changes could be a race deciding section in terms of slow ‘traffic’ through this section.

“Another element could be the weather which, at this time of the year, can be changeable especially as Fuji is situated on the side of a mountain – when it does rain it’s very heavy so we will have to be prepared for all conditions whether it be hot or wet.

“But whatever the weather the sportscar race at Fuji will witness a lot of fan support – the Japanese love motorsport.”

The two Audis fight for FIA WEC title

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is powered by a conventional V6 turbocharged diesel engine delivering around 510hp through the rear wheels but benefits briefly from an extra near 200hp, transmitted only through its front axle above 75mph at four specific “zones” using power “harvested” under braking.

A test session will be held on Wednesday, practice sessions on Friday and Saturday prior to qualifying, also on Saturday (0600-0620*) for the anticipated 30-car entry. The race begins at 0300* on Sunday (14 Oct).

* All times are UK & are -8hrs Japan

2012 FIA World Endurance Championship (after 6 rounds)

Driver’s: 1st Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F), 139.5pts. 2nd Allan McNish (GB)/Tom Kristensen (DEN), 126pts. LMP1 Manufacturers': 1st Audi*, 173pts. 2nd Toyota, 44pts (*Audi already Champions).

McNish Remains In World Championship Title Race Contention After Brazil Race

Allan McNish Press Release

Scotsman claims third place in rare race in South America

Allan McNish remains firmly in the FIA World Endurance Championship title race after the Scotsman recorded a third place finish in the São Paulo Six Hour race today (Saturday 15 Sep).

McNish, regular co-driver Tom Kristensen (Den) and local favourite Lucas di Grassi (BRA) steered their diesel-engined Audi R18 ultra home 74.679 seconds behind race winners Alex Wurz/Nicholas Lapierre (Toyota).

Dumfries-born McNish and Kristensen now lie 7.5-points behind Audi Sport team-mates Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F) in the eight-race series with just two races remaining after the next round in Bahrain (29 Sep) – their hybrid-diesel Audi finishing just 13.901secs ahead of the McNish Audi.

The 661-mile race staged at the historic 2.676-mile Autódromo de Interlagos was only McNish’s second ever race in Brazil in his 30 year motorsport career – the Scotsman previously competing in the 2002 Formula One Grand Prix.

“Congratulations to Toyota for an excellent victory. We’d worked hard with our Audi to get a good race [handling] balance and that’s what we had but today was the maximum that the R18 ultra could achieve.

“We were quick on a single lap but in ‘traffic’, the hybrids had an advantage. I was very pleased with my double stint at the beginning and also the way that things ran from there on in. We were as competitive as we could be – Tom and I now just look ahead to Bahrain and concentrate on that race and getting back in front in the championship.”

McNish started the six hour race from second place courtesy of di Grassi’s efforts in qualifying the previous day, alongside the pole-starting Toyota with the Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer (Audi) third on the 28-car grid, but the Scotsman slipped to third 12mins in.

Kristensen took over the third-placed Audi from McNish with almost two hours gone – Allan having led briefly during the scheduled re-fuelling pit-stop phase – but the Dane lost valuable time soon afterwards with a spin following contact with a slower car.

Approaching mid-race, Kristensen went one lap down to the leading Toyota after pitting for fuel and tyres during the race’s first full course caution period before setting a searing pace.

Di Grassi entered the fray placed third, 16secs behind the Fässler/Lotterer/ Tréluyer Audi with 140mins remaining and despite the Brazilian setting the fastest lap of the race with 45mins to run, remained third to the chequered flag.

McNish returns home to Monaco briefly before heading to Singapore for next weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix (21-23 Sep) in the role of an FIA Steward.

2012 FIA World Endurance Championship (after 5 rounds)

Driver’s: 1st Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F), 114.5pts. 2nd Allan McNish (GB)/Tom Kristensen (DEN), 107pts. LMP1 Manufacturers': 1st Audi*, 147pts. 2nd Toyota, 43pts (*Audi already Champions).

McNish & Audi: A Strong Brazilian Blend for Sao Paulo Race

Allan McNish Press Release

Allan McNish aims to re-take the FIA World Endurance Championship lead when the Scotsman races in South America for only the second time in his 30-year motorsport career on Saturday (15 Sep).

Despite scoring a win plus second, third and fourth placings, the Dumfries-born driver will start the São Paulo Six Hours second in the title race.

McNish and regular co-driver Tom Kristensen (Den) are joined for a one-off race by Brazilian Lucas di Grassi in their diesel-engined Audi R18 ultra while Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F) who, by winning the last race at Silverstone, leapfrogged McNish and Kristensen in the standings by 4.5pts, drive the R18 e-tron quattro.

“The Championship has swung again,” confirms McNish. “Tom, Dindo and myself led it after winning the opening Sebring race, dropped to second after Spa, led after Le Mans and now find ourselves back in second after Silverstone, so my objective is crystal clear – to re-take the series lead.”

McNish has only once previously raced in Brazil, contesting the 2002 Formula One Grand Prix at the 2.676-mile Autódromo de Interlagos track which opened in 1940. Allan was also the Friday “test driver” at the F1 GP the following year while nowadays the circuit it is also known as the Autódromo José Carlos Pace and is located 13-miles from São Paulo.

Allan continued: “I really enjoy Brazil, it is a fantastically alive place to be, especially in racing and this year I think the circuit will be pretty busy with local boy Lucas [di Grassi] joining our car for this event.

“The track itself unusually runs in an anti-clockwise direction, is pretty difficult and is quite technical. It’s an old style, undulating circuit featuring some very fast sections but there is also a fiddly little infield.

“At this time of the year it should be quite hot so it will be important to make the correct tyre choices.”

In the opening four WEC races, the hybrid diesel R18 e-tron quattro has won twice (Le Mans & Silverstone) compared to the conventional V6 turbocharged diesel engine of the McNish/Kristensen R18 ultra.

“I expect the infield section to favour the e-tron quattro with its power boost and the four-wheel-drive aspect exiting the hairpins,” continued McNish who hopes to emulate the success of fellow Scot David Coulthard who won at Interlagos in 2001.

“There are some areas, however, that I believe will benefit our ultra, so it could be quite a close contest between the two Audi technologies.

“But it’s not just a case of Tom & I looking over our shoulders at our ‘sister” Audi. We must keep an eye on Toyota because their performance at Silverstone proved that they have learned a lot since Le Mans.

“Their Le Mans speed was not a surprise but their speed at Silverstone was definitely a step forward and they are going to be a challenge to us.”
The São Paulo Six Hours marks the first foray in Brazil for a “factory” Audi team since Michèle Mouton (F) won the 1982 Rallye do Brasil, a round of the FIA World Rally Championship (11-14 August) in an Audi quattro.

Practice begins on Thursday (1500-1630 & 1930-2100*) with qualifying for the anticipated near 30-car entry on Friday (1830-1850*). The race begins at 1600* on Saturday (15 Sep).

McNish Loses World Endurance Championship Lead With Third Place At Silverstone

Allan McNish Press Release

Ertswhile FIA World Endurance Championship leader Allan McNish slipped to second in the standings after the Briton could only manage third place at Silverstone today (Sunday 26 Aug).

Dumfries-born McNish and co-driver Tom Kristensen (Denmark) steered their conventional diesel-engined Audi home 74.427secs behind the diesel-hybrid Audi R18 e-tron quattro of Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/ Benoît Tréluyer in the Silverstone Six Hour race.

McNish & Kristensen, who finished 18.752secs adrift of the second-placed Toyota, are now 4.5-points behind “factory” Audi Sport team-mates Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer at the halfway stage in the eight-race championship which resumes in São Paulo, Brazil, on 15 September.

“Tom and I had good speed with our R18 and knew if we could save fuel, it would mean one less scheduled pit-stop,” reflected McNish.

“Unfortunately pitting due to a slow puncture put us out of contention then the Safety Car lost us any lingering chance that we had.

“From then on it was a case of battling to see where we could finish and unfortunately we just missed out on second.

“Congratulations to Marcel, André and Benoît. Tom and I drop to second place in the standings but Tom and I will be doubly determined to bounce back in Brazil.”

Kristensen started the annual race from second position on the 35-car grid – courtesy of McNish in qualifying the previous day, the Scotsman deprived of pole-position by Tréluyer by a mere 0.010secs in the dying moments but dropped to third at the first corner.

Having taken over the third-placed Audi with 1hr42m on the clock, McNish was cruelly forced to pit moments later with a right rear slow puncture caused by debris.

To compound the Scotsman’s misery, he then went a lap down to the leaders after the race’s first full course caution period following an on-track incident with almost two hours gone.

McNish moved to within five seconds of the second-placed Toyota after an energy sapping 160min stint while Kristensen unlapped himself in the closing stages.

The Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer Audi went on to clock up 194 untroubled laps – only a stop-go penalty for contact with a slower car causing any alarm – in the 711.98-mile race staged in dry weather conditions throughout which earned the German manufacturer the WEC Manufacturer’s title.

The McNish/Kristensen R18 ultra is powered by a V6 turbocharged diesel engine delivering around 510hp through the rear wheels while the R18 e-tron quattro, piloted by 2011 & ’12 Le Mans 24 Hour winning trio Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, benefited from an extra near 200hp transmitted through its front axle above 75mph at four specific “zones” around Silverstone’s 3.67-mile Grand Prix track using power “harvested” under braking.

Audi’s McNish Aims For “Home” Rule In Britain’s World Endurance Championship Encounter

Allan McNish Press Release

• Series leader McNish sets sights on maximum score at Silverstone in Scotsman’s World title quest
• UK competition début for Le Mans 24 Hour race winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro in final European-based race of season

Allan McNish will be hoping for “home” rule when the Briton contests the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship at Silverstone on Sunday (26 Aug).

The Dumfries-born driver jointly leads the eight-race WEC by 6.5pts with co-driver Tom Kristensen (Denmark) from Audi Sport team-mates Marcel Fässler (CH)/André Lotterer (D)/Benoît Tréluyer (F).

McNish shares a diesel-engined Audi R18 ultra with Kristensen and is determined to claim a maximum points haul before the series moves onto races in Brazil, Bahrain, Japan and China.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing after a couple of months out since Le Mans and there is no better place for me than at Silverstone,” commented McNish.

“This track has been very important to me ever since my first car race. I was on pole for that race back in 1987 and enjoyed many victories in other ‘junior’ formulas and more recently sportscars with Audi.”

McNish is a winner of the corresponding Silverstone Six Hour race on three occasions. While he only gets the opportunity to race at Britain’s Grand Prix venue once a year nowadays, McNish raced frequently at Silverstone earlier in career – the first time in March 1987.

Having posted fourth (Spa Six Hours) and second (Le Mans 24 Hours) placings in the last two WEC races, McNish is intent on returning to winning ways which got his title assault off to a flying start in the Sebring 12 Hours (USA) five months ago.

Allan added: “I’ve started the corresponding race from the front row of the grid for the last two years only for little niggles to frustrate us in each race but those are in the past now.

“Tom [Kristensen] and I are leading the WEC driver’s championship so we are very eager for the Silverstone race and the opportunity to increase our points advantage.”

McNish with the R18 ultra this time

The McNish/Kristensen R18 ultra is powered by a conventional V6 turbocharged diesel engine delivering around 510hp through the rear wheels while the R18 e-tron quattro, piloted by 2011 & ’12 Le Mans 24 Hour race winning trio Fässler/Lotterer/Tréluyer, benefits briefly from an extra near 200hp, transmitted only through its front axle above 75mph at four specific “zones” around Silverstone’s 3.67-mile Grand Prix track, using power “harvested” under braking from the 50metre board at corners three, six, 15 and 16.


McNish continued: “Silverstone is a tricky circuit. It is fast featuring awkward corners, like Copse, Maggots, Becketts, Stowe - even the new first corner is fast - but then there are some slow sections. The new section is tricky because you come from very high speed and suddenly the car has got to work in really tight corners.

“Our Audi R18 ultra is primarily designed for fast, sweeping 180mph corners at Le Mans rather than 40mph turns but that is an element us drivers and our engineers must adapt the car to.

“The competition with Toyota will increase with each race and I think they will be extremely strong at Silverstone. They came out of Le Mans with a lot of positive feeling, knowing they are competitive, they will be trying very hard to ensure that they give us a run for our money and I am very sure they will.”

Practice begins on Friday (1130-1300 & 1600-1730) with qualifying for the anticipated 35-car entry on Saturday (1520-1540). The race begins at 1200 on Sunday (26 Aug).

Video: McNish's Facebook interview with Audi UK

By Johan Laubscher

Link to Audi UK Facebook page

The Audi UK Facebook page recently asked their fans to send in question for the "Facebook interview" with Allan McNish. A week after the request for questions the Audi UK page has posted the interview with McNish on Youtube. A few of the fan’s questions were chosen and the Scotsman McNish sits down in this video to answer those questions. Here is the video with one of the most popular Audi factory drivers, enjoy: 

McNish's Facebook interview with Audi UK

McNish Hungry For Sebring Success To Bag Valuable World Championship Points

From www.allanmcnish.com

“Flying Scotsman” aims for a fourth Sebring 12 Hour race win

Allan McNish bids to get his FIA World Endurance Championship aspirations off to a flying start in Florida on Saturday (17 Mar). The Scotsman competes in the Sebring 12 Hours sharing his diesel-powered “works” Audi R18 TDI with Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Dindo Capello (Italy). McNish, a winner of the Sebring race on three previous occasions, will contest the entire eight-race WEC with the Dumfries-born ace focussed on winning the world “crown”. 

"My aim this year is to win the Driver's World [Endurance] Championship and help Audi claim the Manufacturer's title,” confessed McNish. 

“I contested the 2002 FIA World Formula One Championship but the only World title I've ever previously been in real contention for was the 1985 Junior World Karting title when I ultimately finished third – one place behind Michael Schumacher.

"I've won the Le Mans 24 Hours twice and the American Le Mans Series title three times but to win the World title would be the icing on the cake in my 30-year motor racing career."

Audi Sport enters three 2011-specification R18 TDI sports-prototypes in North America’s oldest sportscar race with McNish switching to a hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro for the next WEC races at Spa in Belgium (May 5) and the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Allan added: “It will be the first time we have raced the R18 TDI at Sebring which is a little bizarre as we’ve been racing it since last May. 

“The track, climate and intensity of the race are all very good tests for the car, team and a driver. Audi Sport has used it [Sebring] each year, bar one, since its début in endurance sportscar racing [1999] as an important part of our preparation for Le Mans and not just for car reliability, speed and performance.

“It’s used for the way that we work as a team – drivers, engineers and mechanics. A big ‘heavy’ race at the very beginning of the year gets you into the system and an early feel for everything.”

The bumpy, fast 3.7-mile, 17-corner Florida track is not only a stern test for man and machine but features a unique atmosphere attracting a huge crowd. 

“I have always enjoyed racing against this ‘circuit’ as well as the fierce competition,” continued McNish. “I raced in the 12 hours at Sebring for the first time in 2000 and this year’s race marks my ninth and is always fast, aggressive and intense often run in hot and humid weather conditions.

“Normally there are over 150,000 fans gathered around the track over the four days of the event. Many camp out for the entire event with some having been at the circuit to get the best available vantage point in their motorhomes and camper vans since the turn of the New Year.

“Additionally there is the incredible history surrounding this race first run in 1952. Derek Bell, Juan Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Jacky Ickx and Stirling Moss are previous winners with Audi chasing Ferrari and Porsche in terms of overall wins. 

“This year’s race has an extra special incentive for Audi and me as a driver as it’s the opening round of the new FIA World Endurance Sportscar Championship.

“Audi Sport and its drivers have wanted a World Championship to aim at for a long time. It will be a cracking start to the season.

“As an Audi Sport driver, I go to every race with a very good chance of success – Audi and I don’t head to races to finish second. Unfortunately one of our biggest rivals, Peugeot, has pulled out of sportscar racing but Toyota has now joined in.

“I drove for the Japanese manufacturer in Formula One and so know only too well that one of the biggest car companies in the world has now joined us in the WEC. They [Toyota] will not be at Sebring because it is too early in their programme but there will be at least two HPD [Honda] cars in the field.

“And those suggesting that Audi is set to run away with Sebring now that Peugeot has gone should remember that an HPD finished second first time out in last year’s corresponding Sebring race – half a minute behind the winner – with minimal testing which was a stunning performance.

“I am very cautious about making predictions. Knowing this race and taking into account the speed we have had in previous races at Sebring and not won combined with the speed of our competition – it’s going to be tough this year especially as we will be penalised with a 15kg weight penalty due to us running our R18 TDI in 2011 spec.”

McNish raced regularly in the American Le Mans Series in 2000, ’06 & ’07, winning the driver’s title on each occasion, and the Scot has fond memories of the North American-based series. 

Allan added: “I always thoroughly enjoy racing in America but unfortunately Sebring is the only U.S. race on the WEC calendar. I’ve won three American Le Mans Series titles and have had a lot of fun and enjoyment Stateside. 

“The American market is massive for Audi. We’ve been racing diesel sportscars there since 2006 – three years before Audi of America started importing diesel engined road cars. North America is now the third biggest market in the world for Audi. It’s a big player and I think it’s got real significance for both me as a driver, Audi Sport and also for Audi as a car company in what we’ve done to ‘showcase’ TDI technology on racetracks over there”.

Practice is staged on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with qualifying for the anticipated 60-car plus entry on Friday (8.10pm UK time). The 60^th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fuelled by Fresh From Florida race begins at 2.30pm UK time on Saturday.

More about Allan McNish here:

Allan McNish official website

Allan McNish official Facebook page

Allan McNish official Twitter