Allan McNish
McNish in 2013
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1969-12-29) 29 December 1969
Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Championship titles
2000, 2006, 2007
2013		American Le Mans Series
FIA World Endurance Championship
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1997 – 2000, 2004 – 2013
TeamsRoock Racing, Porsche AG, Toyota Motorsports, Audi Sport Joest, Audi Sport UK, Champion Racing
Best finish1st (1998, 2008, 2013)
Class wins3 (1998, 2008, 2013)
Formula One World Championship career
Active years2002
TeamsToyota
Entries17 (16 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry2002 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry2002 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 the 24 Hours of Le Mans, most recently in 2013, as well as a three-time winner of the American Le Mans Series, which he last won in 2007. He won the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in 2013. He has also been a co-commentator and pundit for BBC Formula One coverage on TV, radio and online and was team principal of the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Formula E team.

Early life

McNish was born in Dumfries, Scotland and played football while at school. He was a fan of Nottingham Forest and also supported his local club Queen of the South. It was not until McNish began in karting that he found something at which he excelled.[2]

Early career

McNish began his career in karting like fellow Dumfries and Galloway driver David Coulthard. McNish credited the start given to both of them and Dario Franchitti as being largely down to David Leslie senior 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 to David Brabham in a close fought British Formula 3 Championship. During the late 1980s McNish shared a house with teammate Mika Häkkinen.[4]

Tipped as a future Formula One driver, he tested with both McLaren and Benetton, 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 of Sir Jackie Stewart who went on to form Stewart Grand Prix). While he was arguably the fastest driver of the year, a series of mishaps saw him well beaten by Super Nova drivers Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset in the title race. McNish's career appeared to stall in early 1996 after a deal to race in Formula Nippon fell through and Mark Blundell was preferred for a drive with the PacWest CART team. He also tested for Benetton during the year.

Sports cars

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 with Porsche, at a time when their 911 GT1 model revolutionised sportscar racing. With the factory team he took this car to victory in the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans, partnered by Laurent Aïello and Stephane Ortelli. He subsequently appeared for Toyota and Audi in the race, and after losing a likely victory in the dying stages of the 2007 event, scored a second triumph in 2008 with Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello driving an Audi R10.[6] He has also raced with great success for Audi in the American Le Mans Series, winning the title with Dindo Capello in 2006 and 2007, and taking four overall victories at the 12 Hours of Sebring (2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012). 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. He also codrove the No. 8 Starworks Motorsport Riley-Ford to a second-place finish at the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona.

In the 2000 American Le Mans Series season McNish set a track record for the full circuit configuration at Sears Point International Raceway.

Formula One

McNish's Toyota engine fails at the 2002 French Grand Prix.

McNish finally found an opening into Formula One in 2001, when the newly formed Toyota F1 team 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 teammate Mika Salo were replaced with a new line-up of Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta for 2003. Salo had scored points for the team on their debut in Melbourne and McNish had very nearly done the same in the Malaysian 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's Martin Brundle commented that "replacing Salo and McNish with Panis and A.N. Other" was not, in his view, a step forward.

McNish had a dramatic accident at the 130R corner while practising for Toyota's home race the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, but escaped serious injury. This led to the corner being reprofiled the following year.

After Formula One

McNish driving an Audi R10 TDI at the 2008 1000km of Silverstone

In 2003 he was a test driver for Renault F1, also doing a little TV work for ITV, but the next year he returned to his successful sports car racing career, winning the 12 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 drivers Mika Häkkinen and Jean Alesi. He also won sportscar driver of the year awards from Autosport and Le Mans magazines 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.

McNish speaking about Audi eTron at the 2019 New York ePrix

In 2006, he continued racing with the Audi factory team and was part of the driving line-up which won the 12 Hours of Sebring in the new Audi R10 TDI diesel, setting pole position and breaking the lap record. In 2008, McNish won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Audi alongside Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello. It was his first win at la Sarthe since 1998. McNish won the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans as well with Tom Kristensen and Loïc 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 the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship alongside 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, in Monaco and most recently in Hungary and on both occasions he has penalised the McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton for various transgressions. He has also appeared in a Scania video test driving their new R 730 V8.

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 driver Harry Tincknell.[9] He also works for BBC Sport as a commentator and pundit for their Formula One coverage.[10] McNish became team principal for Audi's Formula E team, starting for the 2017–18 season, following Audi's official take over of the Abt Sportsline run entry.

McNish is two-time winner of the Segrave Trophy (2009/2014), was awarded the BRDC Gold Star in 2014, and won the BARC Gold Medal in 2015.

Other formulae

As well as those above, McNish has also raced in the following racing series:

McNish's helmet for 2013.
Walk of fame – Le Mans, Handprints and signatures from the winners of the 2013 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Personal life

He lives in Monaco with his wife Kelly and their two children. Prior to his marriage, McNish's stag party in Dumfries was attended by Dario and Marino Franchitti and included watching a Queen of the South football match.[2] He speaks English and French.

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate 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
Sources:[11][12]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1997 Germany Roock Racing Monaco Stéphane Ortelli
Austria Karl Wendlinger		 Porsche 911 GT1 GT1 8 DNF DNF
1998 Germany Porsche AG France Laurent Aïello
Monaco Stéphane Ortelli		 Porsche 911 GT1-98 GT1 351 1st 1st
1999 Japan Toyota Motorsports
Germany Toyota Team Europe		 Belgium Thierry Boutsen
Germany Ralf Kelleners		 Toyota GT-One LMGTP 173 DNF DNF
2000 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest France Laurent Aïello
Monaco Stéphane Ortelli		 Audi R8 LMP900 367 2nd 2nd
2004 United Kingdom Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Germany Frank Biela
Germany Pierre Kaffer		 Audi R8 LMP1 350 5th 5th
2005 United States ADT Champion Racing Germany Frank Biela
Italy Emanuele Pirro		 Audi R8 LMP1 364 3rd 3rd
2006 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 367 3rd 3rd
2007 Germany Audi Sport North America Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 262 DNF DNF
2008 Germany Audi Sport North America Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 381 1st 1st
2009 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R15 TDI LMP1 376 3rd 3rd
2010 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R15 TDI plus LMP1 394 3rd 3rd
2011 Germany Audi Sport North America Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R18 TDI LMP1 14 DNF DNF
2012 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Italy Rinaldo Capello		 Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 377 2nd 2nd
2013 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
France Loïc Duval		 Audi R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 348 1st 1st
Sources:[12][13]

Complete American Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rank Points Ref
1999 Champion Racing LMP Porsche 911 GT1 Evo Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 SEB ATL MOS
6		 SON
12		 POR
8		 PET
7		 MON
Ret		 LSV
Ret		 25th 47 [14]
2000 Audi Sport North America LMP Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 SEB
2		 NÜR
Ret		 SON
1		 MOS
1		 TEX
2		 ROS
1		 PET
1		 MON
1		 LSV
2		 ADE
1		 1st 270 [15]
Audi R8R CHA
8		 SIL
3
2004 Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 SEB
1		 MID LIM SON POR MOS AME PET MON 7th 26 [16]
2005 ADT Champion Racing LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 SEB
2		 ATL MID LIM SON POR AME MOS PET MON 10th 22 [17]
2006 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) SEB
1		 UTA
3		 POR
1		 AME
2		 MOS
1		 PET
1		 MON
1		 1st 204 [18]
Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 TEX
1		 MID
1		 LIM
1
2007 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) SEB
2		 STP
1		 LNB
1		 TEX
1		 UTA
1		 LIM
1		 MID
2		 AME
1		 MOS
1		 DET
2		 PET
1		 MON
1		 1st 246 [19]
2008 Audi Sport North America LMP1 Audi R10 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V12 (Diesel) SEB
1		 STP LNB UTA LIM MID AME MOS DET PET
1		 MON 8th 60 [20]
2009 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 Audi R15 TDI Audi 5.5L Turbo V10 (Diesel) SEB
1		 STP LNB UTA LIM MID AME MOS PET
3		 MON 10th 30 [21]
2010 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 Audi R15 TDI plus Audi 5.5L Turbo V10 (Diesel) SEB LNB MON UTA LIM MID AME MOS PET
3		 NC  – [22]
2011 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 Audi R15 TDI plus Audi 5.5L Turbo V10 (Diesel) SEB
4		 LNB LIM MOS MID AME BAL MON NC  – [23]
Audi R18 TDI Audi 3.7L Turbo V6 (Diesel) PET
Ret
2012 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 Audi R18 TDI Audi 3.7L Turbo V6 (Diesel) SEB
1		 LNB MON LIM MOS MDO AME BAL VIR PET NC  – [24]
2013 Audi Sport Team Joest P1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro Audi 3.7L Turbo V6 (Diesel) SEB
2		 LNB MON LIM MOS AME BAL COTA VIR PET NC  – [25]

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2000 Germany Audi Sport North America Italy Rinaldo Capello
Italy Michele Alboreto		 Audi R8 LMP 360 2nd 2nd
2004 United Kingdom Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx Germany Frank Biela
Germany Pierre Kaffer		 Audi R8 LMP1 350 1st 1st
2005 United States ADT Champion Racing Italy Emanuele Pirro
Germany Frank Biela		 Audi R8 LMP1 361 2nd 2nd
2006 United States Audi Sport North America Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 349 1st 1st
2007 United States Audi Sport North America Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 353 4th 2nd
2008 United States Audi Sport North America Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R10 TDI LMP1 351 3rd 1st
2009 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R15 TDI LMP1 383 1st 1st
2011 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R15 TDI plus LMP1 327 4th 4th
2012 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Italy Rinaldo Capello
Denmark Tom Kristensen		 Audi R18 TDI LMP1 325 1st 1st
2013 Germany Audi Sport Team Joest Denmark Tom Kristensen
Brazil Lucas di Grassi		 Audi R18 e-tron quattro P1 364 2nd 2nd
Source:[26]

Complete Formula One results

(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 Panasonic Toyota Racing Toyota TF102 Toyota RVX-02 3.0 V10 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 Seven Renault F1 Team Renault R23 Renault RS23 3.0 V10 AUS
TD		 MAL
TD		 BRA
TD		 SMR
TD		 ESP
TD		 AUT
TD		 MON
TD		 CAN
TD		 EUR
TD		 FRA  —  —
Renault R23B 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

(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
Sources:[12][28]

Complete Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 Rank Points
2004 Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 MON
2		 NÜR
1		 SIL
1		 SPA
Ret		 2nd 28
2005 Audi PlayStation Team Oreca LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 SPA
4		 MON
6		 SIL
1		 NÜR
2		 IST
2		 3rd 26
2008 Audi Sport Team Joest LMP1 Audi R10 Audi TDI 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 Audi TDI 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 Audi TDI 3.7 L Turbo V6
(Diesel)		 CAS SPA
3		 IMO
4		 SIL
7		 EST NC 0
Source:[12]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

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 Audi TDI 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 Audi TDI 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

  1. ↑ Watkins, Gary (17 December 2013). "Allan McNish announces he is retiring from racing". Autosport. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 "QosFC: Allan McNish (part 1)". qosfc.com.
  3. ↑ "QosFC: Allan McNish (part 2)". qosfc.com.
  4. ↑ "QosFC: Allan McNish (part 3)". qosfc.com.
  5. ↑ Allsop, Derick (2002). "McNish finally bursts into the fast lane". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
  6. ↑ "Audi edges Peugeot in classic Le Mans 24 Hours duel". MaximumMotorsport.co.uk. 2008. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  7. ↑ Mans, Giles Richards at Le (11 June 2011). "Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller survive huge Le Mans crashes". The Guardian.
  8. ↑ Ehrhardt, Rainier (17 December 2013). "Allan McNish announces retirement from racing". Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Watkins, Gary (27 March 2014). "Allan McNish to have dual Audi Sport role after retirement". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Formula 1: Allan McNish completes BBC team for 2014 season". BBC Sport. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Allan McNish". Motor Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Allan McNish Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Allan McNish". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  14. ↑ "Allan McNish – 1999 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2000 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  16. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2004 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2005 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2006 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  19. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2007 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2008 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2009 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2010 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  23. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2011 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2012 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  25. ↑ "Allan McNish – 2013 American Le Mans Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  26. ↑ "Complete Archive of Allan McNish". Racing Sports Cars. pp. 2, 3, 4. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "Allan McNish – Involvement". StatsF1. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  28. ↑ "Allan Mcnish race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
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