McNish leads Audi Le Mans charge

Scotsman Allan McNish has been given the chance to fight for a second American Le Mans Series title after Audi confirmed their entry.

The German car giants today announced they will contest all 10 ALMS races, with McNish joining fellow Audi regular Rinaldo Capello for an assault on the crown he won in 2000.

The pair partnered Tom Kristensen to win the Sebring season-opener in March and make history with the first major win for a diesel-powered car, whetting McNish’s appetite for more success.

He said: “The championship is ultimately our goal but we are under no illusion, even after our historic Sebring victory, that it is going to be one of the hardest fought seasons in ALMS.

“Having won the title with Dindo [Capello] for Audi in my only previous full ALMS season in 2000, it’s good to return with the same combination.”

Audi will revert to their ultra-successful R8 car for the next three races, at Houston, Mid-Ohio and Lime Rock, to give them time to fine-tune the diesel R10 for Le Mans in June.

The R10 will return to ALMS competition at Salt Lake City in mid-July and continue for the remainder of the season.

At that point McNish and Capello will be joined by a second Audi squad, with reigning champions Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro returning to the series.