Allan McNish
Allan McNish | |
---|---|
Nationality | British |
Born | Dumfries,Dumfriesshire,Scotland | 29 December 1969
Championship titles | |
2000,2006,2007 2013 | American Le Mans Series FIA World Endurance Championship |
24 Hours of Le Manscareer | |
Years | 1997 – 2000, 2004 – 2013 |
Teams | Roock Racing,PorscheAG,ToyotaMotorsports,AudiSportJoest,AudiSport UK, Champion Racing |
Best finish | 1st (1998,2008,2013) |
Class wins | 3 (1998,2008,2013) |
Formula OneWorld Championship career | |
Active years | 2002 |
Teams | Toyota |
Entries | 17 (16 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 0 |
Career points | 0 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 0 |
First entry | 2002 Australian Grand Prix |
Last entry | 2002 Japanese Grand Prix |
Allan McNish(born 29 December 1969) is a British former racing driver, commentator, and journalist from Scotland.[1]He is a three-time winner of the24 Hours of Le Mans,most recently in2013,as well as a three-time winner of theAmerican Le Mans Series,which he last won in2007.He won theFIA World Endurance Championship(FIA WEC) in2013.He has also been a co-commentator andpunditfor BBC Formula One coverage on TV, radio and online and was team principal of theAudi Sport ABT SchaefflerFormula Eteam.
Early life
[edit]McNish was born inDumfries,Scotland and playedfootballwhile at school. He was a fan ofNottingham Forestand also supported his local clubQueen of the South.It was not until McNish began inkartingthat he found something at which he excelled.[2]
Early career
[edit]McNish began his career in karting like fellowDumfries and GallowaydriverDavid Coulthard.McNish credited the start given to both of them andDario Franchittias being largely down toDavid Lesliesenior and junior.[3]
McNish and Coulthard both were recognised with a McLaren/Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year award having moved up to car racing. In 1988 he won the Formula Vauxhall Lotus championship and in 1989 finished runner up toDavid Brabhamin a close foughtBritish Formula 3 Championship.During the late 1980s McNish shared a house with teammateMika Häkkinen.[4]
Tipped as a future Formula One driver, he tested with bothMcLarenandBenetton,whilst also competing in F3000, then the recognised second tier of European motorsport, in 1990–1992. Whilst racing his first season in F3000, McNish suffered a crash at a race in Donington Park where a bystander was fatally injured.[5]He went on to finish fourth overall in the championship that season. Concentrating on Formula One opportunities meant he appeared in F3000 only once during 1994, at Pau.
When a Formula One drive failed to materialise, he returned to F3000 in 1995 with Paul Stewart Racing (run by the son ofSir Jackie Stewartwho went on to formStewart Grand Prix). While he was arguably the fastest driver of the year, a series of mishaps saw him well beaten by Super Nova driversVincenzo SospiriandRicardo Rossetin the title race. McNish's career appeared to stall in early 1996 after a deal to race in Formula Nippon fell through andMark Blundellwas preferred for a drive with thePacWestCARTteam. He also tested for Benetton during the year.
Sports cars
[edit]Despite devoting his career to the pursuit of a Formula One chance, McNish has become one of the world's most highly rated sportscar drivers. His sportscar career began in 1996 withPorsche,at a time when their911 GT1model revolutionised sportscar racing. With the factory team he took this car to victory in the1998 24 Hours of Le Mans,partnered byLaurent AïelloandStephane Ortelli.He subsequently appeared for Toyota and Audi in the race, and after losing a likely victory in the dying stages of the2007event, scored a second triumph in2008withTom KristensenandRinaldo Capellodriving anAudi R10.[6]He has also raced with great success for Audi in theAmerican Le Mans Series,winning the title with Dindo Capello in 2006 and 2007, and taking four overall victories at the12 Hours of Sebring(2004,2006,2009and2012). At the 2011 Le Mans McNish destroyed the car in a spectacular crash early in the race and ended the race for Audi No. 3. And again at the 2012 Le Mans, McNish made a driving error and lost a first place by crashing the Audi No. 2 car a few hours before the finish.[citation needed]He also codrove the No. 8Starworks MotorsportRiley-Ford to a second-place finish at the2012 24 Hours of Daytona.
In the2000 American Le Mans Series seasonMcNish set a track record for the full circuit configuration atSears Point International Raceway.[citation needed]
Formula One
[edit]McNish finally found an opening into Formula One in 2001, when the newly formedToyota F1team required a development driver. Given his link with Toyota through sportscars he was an obvious choice for this role, and after impressing in testing he was hired to race for the season. He did not score any points during the season's 17 races, and he and teammateMika Salowere replaced with a new line-up ofOlivier PanisandCristiano da Mattafor 2003. Salo had scored points for the team on their debut in Melbourne and McNish had very nearly done the same in theMalaysian Grand Prix,only for a pit lane mistake by the team to cost him the result. Both drivers were told of their replacement before Da Matta was announced, and ITV'sMartin Brundlecommented that "replacing Salo and McNish with Panis and A.N. Other" was not, in his view, a step forward.[citation needed]
McNish had a dramatic accident at the 130R corner while practising for Toyota's home race the Japanese Grand Prix atSuzuka,but escaped serious injury. This led to the corner being reprofiled the following year.[citation needed]
After Formula One
[edit]In 2003 he was a test driver forRenault F1,also doing a little TV work for ITV, but the next year he returned to his successful sports car racing career, winning the12 Hours of Sebring,combining this in 2005 with a venture into the highly competitive DTM (German Touring Car Championship), where he competed against the likes of former Formula One driversMika HäkkinenandJean Alesi.He also won sportscar driver of the year awards fromAutosportandLe Mansmagazines and the (Jackie) Stewart Medal Award for services to Scottish motor sport. He was made the president of the Scottish Motor Racing Club at their annual prize giving and dinner in 2007, succeeding Stewart.
In 2006, he continued racing with theAudifactory team and was part of the driving line-up which won the12 Hours of Sebringin the newAudi R10 TDIdiesel, setting pole position and breaking the lap record. In 2008, McNish won the24 Hours of Le Mansfor Audi alongsideTom KristensenandRinaldo Capello.It was his first win atla Sarthesince1998.McNish won the2013 24 Hours of Le Mansas well with Tom Kristensen andLoïc Duval.In 2011 McNish suffered a catastrophic crash at the Le Mans race, one which left his car virtually disintegrated. However McNish walked away from the vehicle unharmed thanks largely due to the safety improvements that had been made in recent years.[7]
In 2013, McNish became a world champion as he won the2013 FIA World Endurance Championshipalongside Kristensen and Duval.
Since Formula One has introduced the drivers' representative on the stewards panel at all Grands Prix, McNish has featured as the drivers' representative twice in the 2011 season, inMonacoand most recently inHungaryand on both occasions he has penalised the McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton for various transgressions. He has also appeared in aScaniavideo test driving their newR 730V8.
On 17 December 2013, McNish announced his retirement from Audi Sport and from racing full-time. He has not ruled out racing individual events in the future.[8]After retiring he took on a role with Audi Sport, including liaising between the team's drivers and engineers, between the team and motorsport organisers, and driver development. He is also manager of racing driverHarry Tincknell.[9]He also works forBBC Sportas a commentator and pundit for their Formula One coverage.[10]McNish became team principal for Audi'sFormula Eteam, starting for the 2017–18 season, following Audi's official take over of the Abt Sportsline run entry.
McNish is two-time winner of theSegrave Trophy(2009/2014), was awarded the BRDC Gold Star in 2014, and won the BARC Gold Medal in 2015.
Other formulae
[edit]As well as those above, McNish has also raced in the following racing series:
- Karting
- Formula Ford
- Vauxhall Lotus
- British Formula 3
- North American GT
- FIA GT
Personal life
[edit]He lives inMonacowith his wife Kelly and their two children. Prior to his marriage, McNish's stag party in Dumfries was attended byDarioandMarino Franchittiand included watching aQueen of the Southfootball match.[2] He speaks English and French.
Racing record
[edit]Complete International Formula 3000 results
[edit](key) (Races inboldindicate pole position; races initalicsindicate fastest lap.)
Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Pacific Racing | SIL | VAL | PAU | JER | PER | BRH | BIR | SPA | BUG | DIJ 8 |
NC | 0 | |
1990 | DAMS | DON Ret |
SIL 1 |
PAU 6 |
JER 16 |
MNZ 6 |
PER 2 |
HOC Ret |
BRH 1 |
BIR Ret |
BUG Ret |
NOG 8 |
4th | 26 |
1991 | DAMS | VAL DNQ |
PAU 13 |
JER DNQ |
MUG 5 |
PER 8 |
HOC Ret |
BRH Ret |
SPA 8 |
BUG Ret |
NOG 8 |
16th | 2 | |
1992 | 3001 International | SIL Ret |
PAU | CAT 5 |
PER Ret |
HOC 3 |
NÜR Ret |
SPA 12 |
ALB 5 |
NOG | MAG | 11th | 8 | |
1994 | Vortex Motorsport | SIL | PAU Ret |
CAT | PER | HOC | SPA | EST | MAG | NC | 0 | |||
1995 | Paul Stewart Racing | SIL 3 |
CAT Ret |
PAU 2 |
PER Ret |
HOC 6 |
SPA Ret |
EST Ret |
MAG 7 |
7th | 11 | |||
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]Complete American Le Mans Series results
[edit]Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results
[edit]Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Audi Sport North America | Rinaldo Capello Michele Alboreto |
Audi R8 | LMP | 360 | 2nd | 2nd |
2004 | Audi SportUK Team Veloqx | Frank Biela Pierre Kaffer |
Audi R8 | LMP1 | 350 | 1st | 1st |
2005 | ADTChampion Racing | Emanuele Pirro Frank Biela |
Audi R8 | LMP1 | 361 | 2nd | 2nd |
2006 | Audi Sport North America | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 349 | 1st | 1st |
2007 | Audi Sport North America | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 353 | 4th | 2nd |
2008 | Audi Sport North America | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R10 TDI | LMP1 | 351 | 3rd | 1st |
2009 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R15 TDI | LMP1 | 383 | 1st | 1st |
2011 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R15 TDI plus | LMP1 | 327 | 4th | 4th |
2012 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Rinaldo Capello Tom Kristensen |
Audi R18 TDI | LMP1 | 325 | 1st | 1st |
2013 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Tom Kristensen Lucas di Grassi |
Audi R18 e-tron quattro | P1 | 364 | 2nd | 2nd |
Source:[26]
|
Complete Formula One results
[edit](key)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | PanasonicToyota Racing | ToyotaTF102 | ToyotaRVX-02 3.0V10 | AUS Ret |
MAL 7 |
BRA Ret |
SMR Ret |
ESP 8 |
AUT 9 |
MON Ret |
CAN Ret |
EUR 14 |
GBR Ret |
FRA 11† |
GER Ret |
HUN 14 |
BEL 9 |
ITA Ret |
USA 15 |
JPN DNS |
19th | 0 |
2003 | Mild SevenRenault F1 Team | RenaultR23 | RenaultRS23 3.0V10 | AUS TD |
MAL TD |
BRA TD |
SMR TD |
ESP TD |
AUT TD |
MON TD |
CAN TD |
EUR TD |
FRA | — | — | |||||||
RenaultR23B | GBR TD |
GER TD |
HUN TD |
ITA TD |
USA TD |
JPN TD |
||||||||||||||||
Source:[27]
|
†Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete DTM results
[edit](key)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2005 | Abt Sportsline | Audi A4 DTM 2005 | HOC 11 |
LAU Ret |
SPA Ret |
BRN 7 |
OSC 6 |
NOR 4 |
NÜR 6 |
ZAN Ret |
LAU 9 |
IST 15 |
HOC 17 |
10th | 13 |
Complete Le Mans Series results
[edit]Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | AudiSport UK Team Veloqx | LMP1 | Audi R8 | Audi3.6 L Turbo V8 | MON 2 |
NÜR 1 |
SIL 1 |
SPA Ret |
2nd | 28 | |
2005 | AudiPlayStationTeamOreca | LMP1 | Audi R8 | Audi3.6 L Turbo V8 | SPA 4 |
MON 6 |
SIL 1 |
NÜR 2 |
IST 2 |
3rd | 26 |
2008 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R10 | AudiTDI 5.5 L Turbo V12 (Diesel) |
CAT 5 |
MON 6 |
SPA 4 |
NÜR 4 |
SIL 1 |
5th | 27 |
2010 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R15 TDI plus | AudiTDI 5.5 L Turbo V10 (Diesel) |
CAS 1 |
SPA 3 |
ALG | HUN | SIL Ret |
9th | 45 |
2011 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R18 TDI | AudiTDI 3.7 L Turbo V6 (Diesel) |
CAS | SPA 3 |
IMO 4 |
SIL 7 |
EST | NC | 0 |
Source:[12]
|
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
[edit]Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R18 e-tron quattro | AudiTDI 3.7L Turbo V6 (Hybrid Diesel) |
SEB 1 |
SPA 3 |
LMS 2 |
SIL 3 |
SÃO 3 |
BHR 2 |
FUJ 3 |
SHA 2 |
2nd | 159 |
2013 | Audi Sport Team Joest | LMP1 | Audi R18 e-tron quattro | AudiTDI 3.7L Turbo V6 (Hybrid Diesel) |
SIL 1 |
SPA 2 |
LMS 1 |
SÃO 2 |
COA 1 |
FUJ 2 |
SHA 3 |
BHR Ret |
1st | 162 |
Source:[12]
|
References
[edit]- ^Watkins, Gary (17 December 2013)."Allan McNish announces he is retiring from racing".Autosport.Retrieved17 December2013.
- ^ab"QosFC: Allan McNish (part 1)".qosfc.com.
- ^"QosFC: Allan McNish (part 2)".qosfc.com.
- ^"QosFC: Allan McNish (part 3)".qosfc.com.
- ^Allsop, Derick (2002)."McNish finally bursts into the fast lane".The Independent.London. Archived fromthe originalon 14 April 2009.Retrieved9 March2009.
- ^"Audi edges Peugeot in classic Le Mans 24 Hours duel".MaximumMotorsport.co.uk. 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2008.Retrieved15 June2008.
- ^Mans, Giles Richards at Le (11 June 2011)."Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller survive huge Le Mans crashes".The Guardian.
- ^Ehrhardt, Rainier (17 December 2013)."Allan McNish announces retirement from racing".Retrieved17 December2013.
- ^Watkins, Gary (27 March 2014)."Allan McNish to have dual Audi Sport role after retirement".Autosport.Haymarket Publications.Retrieved15 April2014.
- ^"Formula 1: Allan McNish completes BBC team for 2014 season".BBC Sport.7 January 2014.Retrieved31 July2015.
- ^"Allan McNish".Motor Sport.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^abcde"Allan McNish Results".Motorsport Stats.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish".Automobile Club de l'Ouest.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 1999 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2000 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2004 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2005 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2006 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2007 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2008 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2009 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2010 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2011 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2012 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – 2013 American Le Mans Series Results".Racing-Reference.NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Complete Archive of Allan McNish".Racing Sports Cars. pp.2,3,4.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan McNish – Involvement".StatsF1.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Allan Mcnish race results".TouringCars.net.Retrieved27 August2023.
External links
[edit]- 1969 births
- Living people
- Scottish Formula One drivers
- Toyota Formula One drivers
- Scottish racing drivers
- British Formula Three Championship drivers
- Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters drivers
- FIA GT Championship drivers
- 24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
- 24 Hours of Le Mans winning drivers
- American Le Mans Series drivers
- International Formula 3000 drivers
- Segrave Trophy recipients
- European Le Mans Series drivers
- People educated at St Joseph's College, Dumfries
- Sportspeople from Dumfries
- 24 Hours of Daytona drivers
- Rolex Sports Car Series drivers
- FIA World Endurance Championship drivers
- Motorsport announcers
- British expatriates in Monaco
- Formula E people
- 12 Hours of Sebring drivers
- Karting World Championship drivers
- Audi Sport drivers
- Team Joest drivers
- Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers
- DAMS drivers
- Oreca drivers
- Abt Sportsline drivers
- Paul Stewart Racing drivers
- Porsche Motorsports drivers
- Starworks Motorsport drivers