by Russell Atkins
Reigning American Le Mans Series LMP1 champion Allan McNish has proven nigh-on unbeatable in recent years, and here the Scot tells us how he plans to continue that winning streak in 2007.
The 37-year-old, in tandem with team-mate Rinaldo ‘Dindo’ Capello – was victorious in eight ALMS races in 2006 on his way to sealing both the drivers’ and constructors’ crowns for Audi in the German marque’s first campaign with its innovative R10 TDI diesel sportscar. Here he looks forward to the forthcoming season as he bids to defend those hard-won titles and add another Le Mans success to his sole triumph in the French classic at la Sarthe almost a full decade ago.
Q:
So Allan, how are you looking forward to the year ahead?
Allan McNish:
Slightly nervous anticipation at the moment looking at 2007. We know what we are doing with the American Le Mans Series and we know Audi will be at Le Mans with the diesel, but we will also have Peugeot there, which is completely new competition. They have been so successful in the past, and looking at the car’s first pictures it looks as if it’s going to be a really strong competitor. In America, Porsche and Honda are both coming in and are obviously going to be very good too. I think the battle over there between Audi, Porsche and Honda is going to be really, really hard, and the head-to-head between us, Peugeot and Pescarolo at Le Mans could be very exciting.
Q:
So you foresee a tougher season than you had in 2006?
AM:
2006 was actually a really hard year, even though the results don’t show it. We won so many races that it did look as if it was dominant and easy and that we were sort of coasting, but the reality is we had to work really hard for every race victory, and two or three of them were probably some of the best of my career. I think in terms of the competition coming from different angles, yes 2007 is going to be harder, but I don’t think anything could be much harder than some of the races we had to try and pull out of the bag in 2006.
Q:
The Audi R8 had a tremendous strike rate throughout its career. Do you think the R10 can live up to that?
AM:
The R8 did have a fantastic strike rate, but at this point in its career it had already lost a race. We didn’t win in the third race, whereas the R10 has so far been successful every time. The question I think will regard not necessarily the R10’s strike rate, but rather whether it’s going to have the longevity of the R8. The reality is the R8 outlived itself, and I don’t think that will be able to happen again. I think the likes of Peugeot, Honda and Porsche won’t let it happen.
Q:
You’ve been with your team-mate Dindo Capello for a number of years now. How well do you get on together, and how much of a boost is that continuity?
AM:
Continuity is very important in motorsport, as is understanding, and Dindo and I understand each other. We worked very well together right from the first time we met. We just clicked if you like. It was a wee bit like a relationship with a girl or with your wife – it either works or it doesn’t, and this one works. The good thing over the last few years is we have developed more technically. Before we were quite raw. We just drove as fast as we could and usually had enough in our pockets to succeed. Now I think we are a little bit more adept at trying to work things out logically. Going into another season with Dindo I’m very happy – or he says ‘I’m very ‘appy’ – because he is a very simple and easy character to get on with. He likes good food, so we always tend to find some nice Italian restaurants, but most importantly of all he is a bloody fast guy, and I always like to have a very fast team-mate with me.
Q:
You mentioned Le Mans earlier. Of all the trophies you have won in recent years, that is one that has been missing for a while from your cabinet. How keen are you to set that to rights in 2007?
