Tunnock's powers McNish Le Mans winposted in LMANS25 | 06 | 2013
I'VE DISCOVERED ONE of the secrets behind Scot Allan McNish winning a third Le Mans 24-Hours: Tunnock's Caramel Wafers. No, I'm not joking. Sure his Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid helped, but so too did his secret stash of Tunnock's: and I'm pleased to admit I contributed to Allan's success (see more photos of Allan McNish and his Tunnock's Caramel Wafers).
I'm pleased to have know Allan for more years than I care to remember. Traditionally I give him a call on the Monday of the week of Le Mans — the world's most famous and gruelling 24-Hours race in June — to prepare my final previews for Scotcars, and Scotland's leading newspapers later in the week.
This year, after we'd done all the 'business' stuff, the 43-year-old from Dumfries asked: "When are you coming over?"
"Tomorrow," I replied. "I'm on the 10.45pm ferry from Portsmouth, into Caen at 6.45am, so I'll be at the circuit around midday on Wednesday, after I've checked into the hotel, in time for the first practice session."
"Excellent," he said. "Could you do me a favour?"
"Sure: just tell me what I can do."
"Bring me some Tunnock's Caramel Wafers. I love them, and the guys in the pitcrew love them during the race. I forgot to pack them this year, so if you could bring some down, that would be great."
Related: Allan McNish wins Le Mans 24-Hours
Well, I obviously couldn't jeopardise Allan's bid to win a third Le mans 24-Hours, could I?
So off I popped to Waitrose and bought a few multipacks of Uddingston's finest. And just to confirm their journey from Oxford to the Audi's media centre in the centre of the 8.45-mile La Sarthe circuit on the edge of Le Mans town, I took a few pix.
From my kitchen, they headed off to the ferry. You can imagine the funny looks I got when other passengers saw me taking photos of the Tunnock's Caramel Wafers perched on my press Audi A5 3.0TDI on the deck of the Brittany Ferries' Mont St Michel.
A few hours later, checked into my hotel, and with full Le Mans media accreditation picked up, I headed for the Audi media centre.
Immediately I bumped into Allan.
"Fantastic," he beamed, as I handed him his packs of his favourite treat. "This'll certainly help boost our chances this weekend."
Fast-forward to an hour after the end of the race on the Sunday, June 23. Allan and his co-drivers — Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval — are on stage in the official Le Mans media centre talking about their win.
I know I need to grab him for a few minutes to get one-to-one stuff for Scotcars, plus the Scottish press, including The Times, Scotsman, Scottish Daily Mail, Daily Record.
He catches my eye and makes a discreet signal: "See you outside."
Related: Allan McNish — World Champion
Job done. As the press conference comes to an end, I make sure I'm in prime position to get out of the door first, and wait for Allan.
A few minutes later, out he comes, Le Mans 24-Hours winners' trophy in hand, and beaming with satisfaction over a job well done.
Then, as he walks over towards me — dodging the French security men trying to usher him away towards another official ceremony — he smiles, slips his hand into the pocket of his racesuit, pulls out a Tunnock's Caramel Wafer and carefully positions it on the top of his Le Mans winner's trophy.
"Couldn't have done it without my Tunnock's," he smiled.
Hours later, with the track almost deserted and celebrations at the Audi media centre winding down, I discover I'm now the official 'taxi driver' taking Allan and his wife, Kelly, to their hotel in Le Mans.
As we pack the luggage — including the winner's trophy — into the boot of the A5, there's another glimpse of a remaining Tunnock's Caramel Wafer.
And how did Allan celebrate his historic win? Nine of us, including Allan, Kelly and fellow Audi racer, Oliver Jarvis — who finished on the podium — and his girlfriend, went out for a pizza in the centre of Le Mans. But that's another story!
Related: Allan McNish in retirement shock
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Jim McGill