Club Arnage

https://www.audi-motorsport.info/v2/public/en/2013/press-release/single/id/8197

Wow  :'(

Glad he is going out at the top rather than fizzling away

ALLAN MCNISH ROLL OF HONOUR
1988 Formula Vauxhall Lotus champion
1990 Silverstone International Trophy winner (F3000)
1998 Le Mans 24 Hours winner
2000 Petit Le Mans winner, American Le Mans Series champion
2004 Sebring 12 Hours winner
2006 Sebring 12 Hours winner, Petit Le Mans winner, American Le Mans Series champion
2007 Petit Le Mans winner, American Le Mans series champion
2008 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Petit Le Mans winner
2009 Sebring 12 Hours winner
2012 Sebring 12 Hours winner
2013 Le Mans 24 Hours winner, World Endurance Champion

That's a bit of a shock. Any ideas who will take his place?

Why Gary Watkins thinks this is the right time for Allan to quit.

AS link http://plus.autosport.com/premium/feature/5772/why-mcnish-picked-the-right-time-to-stop/ (http://plus.autosport.com/premium/feature/5772/why-mcnish-picked-the-right-time-to-stop/)

From Allan's website;

"I’ve had fantastically successful time with Audi and feel it’s the right time to step back from Le Mans sports-prototype racing and to look at other opportunities".

http://www.allanmcnish.com/?site=motorsport&item=75&start=0&num=6#news (http://www.allanmcnish.com/?site=motorsport&item=75&start=0&num=6#news)

From Audi press release:


Parting at the pinnacle: Audi driver Allan McNish ends LMP career

•   Audi factory driver retires as World Champion and Le Mans winner
•   End of an exceptional career in top-caliber sport
•   Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “The end of a great career”

Ingolstadt, December 17, 2013 – One of the most successful and charismatic race drivers is leaving the grand stage of motorsport. A few days before his 44th birthday, Audi factory driver Allan McNish announced that he would not continue his active career in the 2014 season.
 
The Scotsman began his very successful racing career 32 years ago in karting. McNish achieved many of his greatest victories since the 2000 season with Audi – most recently, the first World Championship title in his career at the wheel of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro. “I found the ideal moment for myself to bring an end to my LMP sports-prototype racing with Audi,” says McNish. “Together with my team-mates Tom Kristensen and Loïc Duval I finished my most successful season in the sports car. Having also won the Le Mans 24 Hours, I can’t wish for more than what we’ve achieved this year. I can look back on a fantastic career that has left no aims unfinished and I’m looking forward to new challenges the future holds for me. Now I’ll have a lot more time for my family. But I’m going to continue to be part of motorsport in various roles, albeit no longer as an Audi race driver.”
 
Allan McNish will remain in close contact with Audi Sport and contribute his knowledge. “We appreciate and respect Allan’s decision to retire at the pinnacle of his career,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At the same time, this is a parting that is particularly difficult for us. All of us are well aware of Allan’s racing successes. We should not forget, though, how valuable he has been in the development of our race cars, how great a team player he has always been and how he has consistently applied himself to achieve Audi’s aims far beyond motorsport with professionalism, loyalty and commitment. We regret that Allan will no longer be contesting any races for us but are happy that he will continue to be associated with Audi Sport and the Audi brand.”
 
In the 2000 season, Allan McNish in the Audi R8 won the American Le Mans Series for the first time. In 2006 and 2007, in the Audi R10 TDI, he again celebrated title wins in the North American sports car series. Four overall victories in the Sebring 12 Hours complement his track record in North America. Two of his three successes in the Le Mans 24 Hours he celebrated with Audi in 2008 and 2013. The early title win in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at Shanghai (China) five weeks ago marked the pinnacle of the Scotsman’s career, who had initially pursed a classic career in formula racing.
 
Except for the years of 2001 to 2003, when the racing pro with the physique of a jockey was active in Formula 1 as a test and race driver, he was competing for the four rings since 2000. He almost exclusively drove the company’s sports cars and in 2005 he was additionally active in the DTM. He is the only driver to have raced all sports cars ever made in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, from the Audi R8R to the R8, R10 TDI, R15 TDI, R18 TDI models and the R18 ultra through to the R18 e-tron quattro. He has recorded 29 overall victories, 18 pole positions, 17 fastest race laps and four title wins in eleven years, which makes him one of the most successful Audi sports car drivers. “Of course, we’re going to miss Allan in our driver line-up extremely,” says Chris Reinke, Project Manager LMP at Audi Sport. “But it’s typical of Allan that he’s also found a perfect point in time to end his career.”

Good luck in future projects Allan. Been a pleasure to meet you on numerous occasions.

There is another Scottish Former F1 driver looking for work. DTM experienced.

Came as a big surprise when I read about his "retirement" this morning.
A true loss for sportscar racing ... Always loved to see him racing, on and sometimes over the edge !

He is older than you first think, (well I thought so anyway, a smidge younger than me) maybe the franchitti, and other more serious incidents durning the year had a bearing.

Whatever, he has ended on a high, the best way to finish.

Blimey!
one of the most exciting drivers I have had the pleasure to see.
Good luck Alan in the future!

End of an era:
(http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/255/a/9/mcnish_drives_audi_by_daveayerstdavies-d2ymoex.jpg)
Photo copyright Dave Davies

Have two favorite McNish memories.  First was the '98 LM 24hrs, after the race was over, we were walking behind the pits when the winning drivers came walking out of the pit complex, heading toward the Porsche hospitality compound, still wearing the wreath's.  One of our party was a Scotsman from Dumfries County, he and Allan struck up a lively conversation that nobody except those two could understand.  Allan was obviously elated. (Just remembered, he signed my ticket while standing there, its burried in a drawer full of old passes, and ticket stubs)
Second is the 2008 Petit.  I remember vividly sitting on the hillside overlooking the esses as the pitlane opened, I was fiddling with my camera when my wife said "Oh sh*t!"  I looked up to see a Audi gyrating down the hill, shedding bits of carbon fibre.  The Audi camp set about repairing the shunted car, and got it back in the race two laps down.  Allan and Dindo drove a storming race to claw back the lost laps and take the win.
Thanks for all the memories Allan.
Fax

In terms of replacement I believe the money's on Lucas di Grassi.

Seen various reports about him "leaving" the Formula E project.

Plus he has experience with Audi.

I don't know if anyone else noticed the coincidence?  Forty years ago another Scot retired as world champ...
Fax

Didn't see that one coming.....well done and thank you over all the years for the great driving, entertainment and open honesty. 

Never forget listening to RLM around 2001, when Allan was only visiting Le Mans for the 24 Hours, because he was driving for Toyota F1 at the time.  RLM interview went something like:

RLM: Nice to here you here of course Allan, but you're not racing....
AM : No, but life just wouldn't be the same without coming here....

Last 14 years at Le Mans - 3 wins, 6 further podiums, one 5th and 4 DNFs - pretty good record!

Top bloke in my book

MG Mark     

Think timing is spot on for the wee lad!!
interviews about next years battle with porsche & whether he had been approached by them appeared vague , the answer is here I guess

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