-
Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Le Mans / ALMS
IN THE COCKPIT: Allan McNish, Sebring
From my point of view, a lot of my big race wins have been here. In reality, I think everybody from Audi Sport wanted to come and do this race...
Allan McNish and co-drivers Tom Kristensen and Lucas Di Grassi teamed for a runner-up finish in Saturday's Twelve Hours of Sebring. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)
When we came here for this last ALMS run, the 12 Hours of Sebring, there was very much the feeling from Audi's point of view to say thank you to the fans and to everybody that's been with the race and also our programs since 1999.
From my point of view, a lot of my big race wins have been here. I won this race four times, so I was very keen to do it, so was Tom. In reality, I think everybody from Audi Sport wanted to come and do this race.
It definitely did not disappoint when it came to the actual race itself, to have the two e-tron quattros fighting it out. I think the biggest gap was something like 15 or 18 seconds and to have that running through the 12 hours was really impressive for everybody.
We certainly loved a lot about the new car; there was no question. We were able to understand the factors that will play a bigger part when we get to the WEC races, starting off at Silverstone and into Spa and Le Mans. We're still in the early part of development of that car and we found out the areas we needed to work on, at this particular race.
But that's what Sebring is about. Because it is so bumpy, it is so aggressive and is so different to any other track that you do find things that you maybe don't necessarily find out in testing.
It's one of the great aspects to this and one of the reasons that over the years, Audi has continued to do endurance testing after the race, just to make sure everything is put through its paces, well and truly.
From our car point of view, we were very quick off the bat and got into the lead after a couple of hours and were then able to control and maintain that lead to the sister car. Thankfully we were able to stretch our advantage over the other competition as well, which I have to say surprised me in terms in their total pace.
However, they dropped off in penalties and other bits and pieces, which really gave us the cushion, so we didn't necessarily have to look at strategy to try and keep them laps down while under the safety car and things like that.
I got a stop/go penalty, which I was quite shocked about, to be honest, because it was my first one since Laguna 2006, I think, for avoidable contact. We were coming into Turn 10, and through 11 and 12, and I ran around the outside of a LMPC car and right on the edge to give him as much room as possible.
I had two wheels basically on the white line next to the grass. He decided to use all of the road and came in and he tapped just in front of the left-rear wheel. He then spun around and I received a penalty, which considering I was three-quarters of the way past, I didn't really know what else I could do change the situation, other than only overtake on straights.
It seemed a bit harsh, but hey, when you get it, you've got to do it. But that was a one-minute penalty and that really did put us on the back foot and we had to fight our way back from there.
Lucas, Tom and I did a fantastic job getting back into the lead. We lost a little bit of performance with some stuff in the middle of the race, things that will be rectified in the future. That meant that we didn't necessarily have the pure outright speed.
We had to do it on clever strategy, tire management and certain risks through traffic to get us to the point with 45 minutes to go where Tom and Ben are literally side by side going down into Turn 3.
That was really nail-biting stuff for me, to the point where I actually couldn't watch. I had to go back into the truck and was beginning to pack things up as I knew there was nothing I could do about it. You're just part of things at that point.
Overall, we finished second and Olly, Ben and Marcel won the race. I have to congratulate them for that. On our side, I think the three of us drove absolutely superbly well. We got the maximum out of the car, certainly in qualifying. That was one of my best qualifying laps.
In the race, I have to say I was very pleased with my performance because I would say it was probably one of my best races, if not my best race in the last five years.
All in all, it was a good weekend for us as a team and a good weekend for Audi Sport and definitely the best weekend for the fans because they saw some absolute thrilling races, not only in P1 but in P2 with Marino Franchitti, and PC and GT and even GTC. I think from the British point of view, it was quite strong as well, with a number of Brits on the podium.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but am disappointed we won't be here with LMP1s in the future. But I woudn't be surprised if I was back at the 2014 Sebring 12 Hours, not necessarily driving a car, but maybe looking at it from the other side, from the fan's point of view, and enjoying the race from that visual point.
A big, big thank you to all of the fans that have made this race so special. Because without a shadow of the doubt, you are the reason that the race is so much a success. We just put on a bit of a show.
You give it the atmosphere, the flavor and the feel.
Thank you.
~Allan
Allan McNish, a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, is a factory driver for Audi Sport, competing in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship. A three-time ALMS champion, McNish has also racked up multiple wins at Sebring and Petit Le Mans. For more information, visit allanmcnish.com and follow him on Twitter @AllanMcNish.
From my point of view, a lot of my big race wins have been here. I won this race four times, so I was very keen to do it, so was Tom. In reality, I think everybody from Audi Sport wanted to come and do this race.
It definitely did not disappoint when it came to the actual race itself, to have the two e-tron quattros fighting it out. I think the biggest gap was something like 15 or 18 seconds and to have that running through the 12 hours was really impressive for everybody.
We certainly loved a lot about the new car; there was no question. We were able to understand the factors that will play a bigger part when we get to the WEC races, starting off at Silverstone and into Spa and Le Mans. We're still in the early part of development of that car and we found out the areas we needed to work on, at this particular race.
But that's what Sebring is about. Because it is so bumpy, it is so aggressive and is so different to any other track that you do find things that you maybe don't necessarily find out in testing.
It's one of the great aspects to this and one of the reasons that over the years, Audi has continued to do endurance testing after the race, just to make sure everything is put through its paces, well and truly.
From our car point of view, we were very quick off the bat and got into the lead after a couple of hours and were then able to control and maintain that lead to the sister car. Thankfully we were able to stretch our advantage over the other competition as well, which I have to say surprised me in terms in their total pace.
However, they dropped off in penalties and other bits and pieces, which really gave us the cushion, so we didn't necessarily have to look at strategy to try and keep them laps down while under the safety car and things like that.
I got a stop/go penalty, which I was quite shocked about, to be honest, because it was my first one since Laguna 2006, I think, for avoidable contact. We were coming into Turn 10, and through 11 and 12, and I ran around the outside of a LMPC car and right on the edge to give him as much room as possible.
I had two wheels basically on the white line next to the grass. He decided to use all of the road and came in and he tapped just in front of the left-rear wheel. He then spun around and I received a penalty, which considering I was three-quarters of the way past, I didn't really know what else I could do change the situation, other than only overtake on straights.
It seemed a bit harsh, but hey, when you get it, you've got to do it. But that was a one-minute penalty and that really did put us on the back foot and we had to fight our way back from there.
Lucas, Tom and I did a fantastic job getting back into the lead. We lost a little bit of performance with some stuff in the middle of the race, things that will be rectified in the future. That meant that we didn't necessarily have the pure outright speed.
We had to do it on clever strategy, tire management and certain risks through traffic to get us to the point with 45 minutes to go where Tom and Ben are literally side by side going down into Turn 3.
That was really nail-biting stuff for me, to the point where I actually couldn't watch. I had to go back into the truck and was beginning to pack things up as I knew there was nothing I could do about it. You're just part of things at that point.
Overall, we finished second and Olly, Ben and Marcel won the race. I have to congratulate them for that. On our side, I think the three of us drove absolutely superbly well. We got the maximum out of the car, certainly in qualifying. That was one of my best qualifying laps.
In the race, I have to say I was very pleased with my performance because I would say it was probably one of my best races, if not my best race in the last five years.
All in all, it was a good weekend for us as a team and a good weekend for Audi Sport and definitely the best weekend for the fans because they saw some absolute thrilling races, not only in P1 but in P2 with Marino Franchitti, and PC and GT and even GTC. I think from the British point of view, it was quite strong as well, with a number of Brits on the podium.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but am disappointed we won't be here with LMP1s in the future. But I woudn't be surprised if I was back at the 2014 Sebring 12 Hours, not necessarily driving a car, but maybe looking at it from the other side, from the fan's point of view, and enjoying the race from that visual point.
A big, big thank you to all of the fans that have made this race so special. Because without a shadow of the doubt, you are the reason that the race is so much a success. We just put on a bit of a show.
You give it the atmosphere, the flavor and the feel.
Thank you.
~Allan
Allan McNish, a two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, is a factory driver for Audi Sport, competing in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship. A three-time ALMS champion, McNish has also racked up multiple wins at Sebring and Petit Le Mans. For more information, visit allanmcnish.com and follow him on Twitter @AllanMcNish.
Monterey
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTO-RACING
-
INDYCAR: Helping Our Heroes
Inside Panther Racing's "Operation: Hire our Guard" program, which… -
INDYCAR: Inside IndyCar's New Speed, Safety And Technology Initiative…
INDYCAR's Derrick Walker takes Marshall Pruett through where the… -
PHOTOS: Indy 500 Carb Day 2013
Enjoy a selection of photos from Indy 500 Carb Day, including the… -
VIDEO: Amazing 4-Wide Finish To Indy Lights Freedom 100
Ireland's Peter Dempsey came from fourth at Turn 3 on the last lap… -
INDYCAR: Pagenaud Leads Indy 500 Carb Day Practice
After getting whooped in qualifying, Honda turns up the wick for… -
INDYCAR: Miller's Mailbag, 5.24
It's time for SPEED.com's weekly IndyCar Q&A with Robin Miller's… -
USAC: Honda To Sponsor National Midget Championship
Honda announced it would be the title sponsor for USAC’s National… - More News
