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
