by Russell Atkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL: CLICK HERE
As a long-time lynchpin of Audi’s multi-pronged sportscar attack, Allan McNish is likely to once again be kept a very busy man in 2008, as he bids to defend his American Le Mans Series crown and gain revenge for late-race heartbreak in last year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.
Not only that, but the forthcoming campaign could also witness a return to competition on British shores for the 38-year-old Scot, and before any of that even he has the small matter of a round-the-clock race in Florida to contend with, as he told
Crash.net Radio…
Q:
Allan, you’ve got a busy season coming up in 2008. Tell us a little bit about it…
Allan McNish:
2008 is a very heavy campaign from Audi’s point-of-view. They’re defending their DTM title, hopefully the American Le Mans Series championship that Dindo Capello and I won for the second year and also the Le Mans 24 Hours. On top of that we’ve possibly got another campaign which is the Le Mans Series in Europe, which will be head-to-head with Peugeot. There’s going to be the new Porsche coming across as well with Oreca, and with Pescarolo in the mix too I can see some really fierce battles ahead in the 1,000km races.
Q:
How much are you looking forward to possibly racing in the Le Mans Series? Obviously it would give you the opportunity to compete on home turf again at Silverstone…
AM:
Unfortunately it’s not 100 per cent confirmed yet that the driver line-up is going to be in America or Europe for myself, but I certainly would like to race in Europe there’s no question, and if I can come back to
Silverstone – having won that particular 1,000km race twice, in 2004 and 2005 – I think it would be very nice to have a hat-trick of wins.
Q:
What would be the benefits for Audi in being able to take on Peugeot head-to-head over a few races in the lead-up to Le Mans?
AM:
It’s clear that Peugeot are going to be very strong at Le Mans, so if we can have a chance to get a sniff and see how good they are and where their strengths and weaknesses are it will be very helpful. However, saying that, when we’re doing it to them they’re doing it to us as well, but I think both companies – both teams, if you like – are very concentrated and very focussed and they both want to win. That can’t be bad for anybody, because it just means we’re going to have to step up our game to make sure we beat them, and they’re going to have to do the same, and the winner I would say is going to be the fans because they’re going to see some excellent racing.
Q:
Do you feel you’re returning to La Sarthe this year with some scores to settle after what happened there in 2007?
AM:
If I’m honest, I feel I’ve got some scores to settle after 2007, 2006 and 2005! Le Mans is the hardest race in the world, and I say that quite clearly because it’s 24 hours long and you’ll cover about 5,500km in that time, which is the equivalent of about 16
Formula 1 grands prix back-to-back without stopping, without changing gearboxes, without changing engines, without changing suspension, brakes, discs, whatever it may be… It’s just purely tyres and fuel, and so it is extremely hard for a car and also for the drivers.
