Allan McNish - Le Mans 24 Hours test day preview

Dumfries-born Allan McNish begins his countdown for the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours by competing in an official one-day test in France on Sunday (3 June).

1998 Le Mans winner McNish, 37, drives his diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI sportscar in two, four-hour sessions (9am-1pm & 2-6pm) around the 8.48-mile circuit comprising of closed public roads.

From an original entry of 76, 55-cars have been invited to take part in the Test Day with the aim of making it onto the grid for the 75th Le Mans 24 Hours staged on 16-17 June.

McNish commented: “Having débuted and ultimately won last year’s race with the R10 TDI, Audi will arrive at Le Mans with a good base set-up. We will undertake a test programme on Sunday, ensuring we complete the main set-up work prior to heading back to Le Mans 10 days later.

“This is the one and only opportunity for everyone to test on the Le Mans track prior to race week. When we go back the following week, we have just eight hours of qualifying, spread over two evenings, for grid positions so Sunday’s test is very, very important.

“Additionally, it will be the first time the diesel-engined Peugeot and Audi sports-prototypes have met head-to-head so that element will also be very interesting.”

McNish, who will compete in his eighth Le Mans race aiming to become the first Briton to win driving a diesel-engined sportscar, has led the race for the past three years only to finish fifth, third and third respectively.

The Monaco-based Scotsman’s co-drivers are as last year with regular American Le Mans Series co-pilot Dindo Capello (I) joined by Tom Kristensen (Den). However, record seven-time Le Mans winner Kristensen is still recovering from an accident he suffered in the opening round of the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) on 22 April.

“I desperately hope Tom can race at Le Mans. But Audi has nominated a reserve driver, Mattias Ekström, so he’ll definitely attend the Le Mans test. He’s raced for Audi in the DTM since 2001 and tested the Audi R10 TDI at Paul Ricard last month.”

Frank Biela (D), Emanuele Pirro (I) and Marco Werner (D), who made Le Mans history by winning the race in their diesel-powered Audi last year, drive together again while a third “factory” entered Audi R10 TDI will be handled by Lucas Luhr (D), Mike Rockenfeller (D) and Alexandre Prémat (F).