This is what Mr McNish has to say
Sebring 12 Hours Qualifying Brief Britain’s Allan McNish starts the Sebring 12 Hour sportscar endurance race from pole-position on Saturday (18 Mar) after shattering the lap record.
Dumfries-born McNish (36) stopped the clock in 1min 45.828secs at the wheel of his diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI, an average speed of almost 126mph around the 17-corner, 3.7-mile Florida track.
McNish’s spectacular feat makes history. It is the first time a diesel-powered sportscar has claimed pole-position in an international motor race.
“It feels good to have made history,” confirmed McNish. “My Audi was very well balanced, the turbo diesel performed superbly while I drove probably my best-ever qualifying lap.
“It is testament to the hard work the Audi team has undertaken in recent months - this is a brand new car utilising new turbo diesel technology. Now we must regenerate this form in to claiming a top race result.
“Essentially this race in Florida is only a rehearsal for our goal of winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. Twelve hours of racing here is equivalent to 24 at Le Mans - it’s a tough track on man and machine”.
The “Flying Scotsman’s” lap was over 2.6secs under Tom Kristensen’s four-year-old record set in Audi’s previously dominant R8 sportscar which has won the Sebring race for the last six years.
McNish, who has finished first (2004) and second (2000 & ’05) on his three previous Sebring races, débuts the new Audi R10 TDI with Kristensen (Den) and Dindo Capello (I). Frank Biela (D), Emanuele Pirro (I) and Marco Werner (D) contests the annual race in a second, Audi Sport North America entered “factory” R10 which also starts the race from the front row.
