McNish ready to be world champposted in LMANS07 | 11 | 2013
SCOTS SPORTSCAR ACE Allan McNish aims to become Scotland's first motorsport world champion since Colin McRae when he fires up his Audi in China on Saturday.
The 43-year-old from Dumfries, already a three-times Le Mans 24-Hours winner, knows a fourth place in Shanghai is all he needs to clinch the FIA World Endurance Championship.
But despite holding a 40.75-point lead, McNish, who qualified fourth-fastest on the 28-car grid, will start the Six Hours of Shanghai in his Audi R18 e-tron quattro with only one aim in mind: winning the race.
"I'm not interested in any title permutations," McNish, who has already had three victories – including Le Mans in June – and three second places in the six races run to date, stated today. "My focus remains as it always is, to win the race."
McNish though — who will again be partnered by co-drivers, Dane Tom Kristensen and Frenchman Loïc Duval — is taking nothing for granted.
“Tom, Loïc and I are in a good championship position," he continued, "but I have been in motorsport long enough to know it's never over until it’s over, so we’ll continue with our normal focus in Shanghai."
Related: McNish targets world title
The Scot finished second in the corresponding race 12 months ago, narrowly missing out on the championship.
This weekend though, McNish returns determined to win his first-ever world title in his 20-plus year motor racing career with a race to spare.
“Our R18 didn’t really have the competitiveness we needed there in 2012," he admitted, "but the work Audi Sport did over the winter with the aerodynamics, the hybrid system and tyres has put us ahead of our rivals.
“Shanghai was a circuit I enjoyed last year. It’s not necessarily one of my favourite circuits on the WEC calendar and while there are not that many fast corners, a driver can really ‘throw’ the car into them.
“Tom and I were fast there last year and we finished second. We were very close to pole-position just behind the Toyota and I think that it’s clear for us: we go there to try and win.”
Roadtest: Audi RS Q3
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Jim McGill