EXCLUSIVE: Allan McNishposted in LMANS22 | 06 | 2013

    ALLAN MCNISH IS TIRED of being the 'nearly man'. Despite already having two Le Mans 24-Hours victories under his belt, the 43-year-old from Dumfries has a long list of those that 'got way'. Today he starts the world's most famous endurance race from pole position, determined to bag his third win.

    "Two's nice, but three has a lovely ring to it," the diminutive Scot, who will be partnered by Frenchman Loic Duval, and Dane Tom Kristensen in their hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro, said.

    "It's about time I stood on the top step of the Le Mans podium again, and hopefully, if all goes according to plan, that's exactly where I'll be just after 3pm on Sunday."

    McNish, who has also twice finished second, and third four-times, first conquered the gruelling race, fought over 8.45-miles — the majority of which comprises closed-off public roads more normally used by French trucks, holidaymakers and farmers — in 1998 behind the wheel of his Porsche.

    But despite being a core part of Audi's Le Mans assault since 2000 — when he was only denied victory because of controversial team orders — it was 10 years before his second win came in 2008.

    In the following four years, he could — and on two occasions, should — have won at least three of the races.

    Victory evaporated in 2010 when he was comfortably leading the pack. A year later, his car was again the dominant package when the front of his car was clipped by a slower Ferrari and has was pitched into one of the most violent and horrific crashes ever seen at Le Mans. The fact he crawled out, unscathed, was testament to the strength of the Audi.

    Scot Allan McNish starts Le Mans 24-Hours from pole

    Then last year, leading Audi team-mate Andre Lotterer's e-tron quattro by 49 seconds with just over three hours remaining, he again fell victim to a slower Ferrari. The impact speared his car into a wall and though he nursed the car back to the pits, by the time repairs were completed, victory had gone.

    Quizzed about why, when he had such a lead, he was pushing so hard, McNish diplomatically smiles and waits for the next question.

    Having spoken with other team insiders, it's clear McNish was told over the radio he had to find six seconds over three laps, which meant to he had to push unnaturally hard. The reality was, he didn't actually need to find that time.

    That, without question, explained the reason why McNish's already small frame seemed to shrink further when he spoke at the end of last year's race. Behind the public face, there was a deep feeling of frustration, disbelief and, most probably — as witnessed in his eyes — anger.

    Asked how crushing the disappointment of last year was, he replies: "We've certainly improved our communication. There was a miscommunication last year on strategy.

    "That side of things has changed a lot over the winter: different engineer, different information. I think we're in a stronger position as a race team because of it.

    "Without doubt it was disappointing. It's another one that got away. It wasn't an easy one to accept: it was hard to get over, and it took a long time. But Tom and I have returned here this year determined to do the job. For Loic it's all new for him to be driving with us: but for Tom and I, we have a job to do."

    Fifer Peter Dumbreck targets Le Mans win with Aston Martin

    McNish's No2 Audi has, so far, been the car to beat. There is a defiance within his car's garage that there is a job yet to be completed. There may be three identical Audis — including that of Andre Lotterer's trio, winners in the past two years from pole position — but the No2 car is the one everyone knows they have to beat.

    The Scot acknowledges his car is quicker this year, as proved by its pole time of 3min 22.349secs, 1.5s faster than the polesitter in 2012.

    "The hybrid has a bit more grunt from last year," McNish explained. "But for me, one of the main things is we've understood how to make all the systems of the car work to their max.

    "This is the first time since 2008 where we've come back with an evolution of the previous year's car. We've actually had the winter to play with it, fine tune it and develop it. That's been a big benefit."

    With fellow Scot, 39-year-old Fifer Peter Dumbreck, starting second in the GT Pro class in his Aston Martin, there's every possibility the Saltires in the 250,000 crowd could well be celebrating two wins tomorrow (Sun) afternoon.

    After the punishing disappointments of the past few years, does McNish believe Le Mans owes him one?

    "Yeh, I think it definitely owes me one," he smiled. "But you've got to beat the circuit before you beat the competition, and this circuit doesn't take prisoners.

    "It's an aggressive place: one of those venues which just crucifies you if you have any sort of problem. That's fine: that's the way it should be.

    "I've certainly served my apprenticeship there. I've seen the highs, and experienced the deep lows. Whether Le Mans feels it owes me one, we'll discover on Sunday."

    Scots drivers at Le Mans 2013 — Starting positions:

    Allan McNish, Dumfries: Audi R18 e-tron quattro — 1st overall and 1st in LMP1 class

    Marino Franchitti, Bathgate: Level 5 HPD Honda — 26th overall and 18th in LMP2 class

    Peter Dumbreck, Kirkcaldy: Aston Martin Vantage GTE — 30th overall, 2nd in GTE Pro class

    Jamie Campbell-Walter, Oban: Aston Martin Vantage GTE — 42nd overall, 3rd in GTE Am class

    Ryan Dalziel, Wishaw: SRT Viper GTS-R — 46th overall and 11th in GTE Pro class

    Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars

    Jim McGill

     

User Comments

Login or register to post comments.