McNish targets world titleposted in LMANS12 | 04 | 2013
SCOTS ENDURANCE RACER Allan McNish ignored his wife Kelly's request to pop into the Bicester Village shopping outlet and instead, with his team-mate Tom Kristensen next to him, headed straight from the hotel to Silverstone.
"Kelly's in Scotland with the kid's next week, so she'll have plenty of time to shop herself," the diminutive 42-year-old from Dumfries said today . "Anyway, it's raining and cold, so why would I want to go shopping?"
As he headed for the Northamptonshire track to prepare for the opening round of this year's World Endurance Championship, McNish explained he's eager to rid himself of the 'nearly man' tag some less-informed fans have labelled him with.
Over the past two seasons, the double Le Mans 24-Hours winner, multiple American Le Mans Series champ, and former Toyota F1 racer has, by his own admission, not had the results he wanted.
After crashing spectacularly out of Le Mans in 2011, he was on course to win it last year when he crashed out of the lead in the closing hours.
He also narrowly missed out on last year's inaugural WEC, and last month saw his hopes of winning the 12-Hours of Sebring in Florida ruined by mechanical issues, again just as he appeared poised for victory.
"Yeh, results certainly haven't gone our way recently," McNish, who starts as favourite to win most races he starts in his hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro.
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"Things have been more than frustrating because every time we've put ourselves in the position to win, something, often mechanical, has cropped up to ensure we haven't been able to turn it into the race win.
"Obviously we'd like to rectify that, but as long as you're there, or thereabouts, then given time it will swing in your favour."
And McNish has no time for those who might question his desire to get back on to the top step of the podium.
"Listen, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have the desire to get back on the top step of the podium," he continued.
"Anyone who's seen the gruelling pre-season fitness camps we went through will know exactly how hungary I am for success again."
But the Scot — who, in addition to Dane Kristensen, will be joined by Frenchman Loïc Duval in the Audi for Sunday's Silverstone 1000km — acknowledges his ambitions will be threatened by Toyota this year.
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"There's no doubt they'll be our biggest challengers," the Audi ace admitted. "They were quick straight out the box at Le Mans last year, and were fighting for the lead when they crashed.
"And they improved right through the season, winning the final two WEC races.
"I just have to hope the big step we've taken is larger than their's. But I do expect it to be a very, very big fight all season."
McNish is also hoping to add a new trophy to his cabinet this weekend. For the first time, the winner of the race will receive Britain's oldest motorsport trophy, the famous RAC Tourist Trophy.
“It’s the first time it has been presented for a sports-prototype race at Silverstone," he explained, "and it's been an integral part of British motor racing for over 100 years.
"It would make me very proud to lift the RAC Tourist Trophy, but firs and foremost, this weekend is all about winning the race and getting Audi's WEC campaign off to a winning start.
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Jim McGill