Allan McNish - Mid-Ohio race preview

Allan McNish heads for the latest round of the American Le Mans Series in Mid-Ohio on Saturday (21 July) expecting outright success is out of reach in his diesel-powered Audi.

The 165-minute race marks the Audi R10 TDI’s début at this venue but while the double Le Mans 24 Hour race winning car boasts massive torque from the ultra-efficient 5.5-litre turbo diesel engine, its significantly 150kgs (330lbs) heavier than the LM P2 cars.

“As a race driver I want to win every race outright,” insisted McNish. “That was proven by the way I pushed, possibly in hindsight a little too hard in a car that was unusually difficult to drive, in the last race at Lime Rock.

“I could have sat behind the back marker and bided my time. But I was in second place overall and only a few seconds behind the leader and it was my intention to get passed and challenge the race leader as quickly as possible.

“The easy option would have been to sit back and cruise around and concentrate just on beating the ‘sister’ Audi and win LM P1 – but I’m there to race.

“Although the LM P2 cars have about 100hp less than our Audi, they are ultra, ultra competitive as their record this season confirms. The fact that two LM P2 cars finished first and second at Mid-Ohio in last season’s corresponding race, having started from pole-position and also saw one set the overall fastest race lap, the odds are not in Audi’s favour.

Qualifying for grid positions is held on Friday at 2300 (BST) with Saturday’s race starting at 2015 (BST).

“Dindo and I finished third overall, first in class, on my Mid-Ohio début last year,” reflected Allan. “It’s a fast, flowing track featuring adverse camber corners and hills. It also has a very smooth track surface which did not work in our favour last year with the outgoing Audi R8 but which may suit the R10 TDI better and allow us to take the fight to the LM P2 Porsche and Acura [Honda] cars.”