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 60th 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:
More about Allan McNish here:
