Audi UK - Sebring 12 Hours preview

Allan McNish sets out to achieve the perfect “warm-up” for his Le Mans 24 Hour race preparations by recording his third career win in the Sebring 12 Hours in Florida on Saturday (15 Mar).

The 38-year-old Scotsman, who aims to win the prestigious French race this summer 10 years after his maiden Le Mans triumph, drives a revolutionary diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI aiming to repeat his Sebring wins of 2004 & ‘06.

A hat-trick of Sebring victories would make the Dumfries-born Scotsman the most successful British driver in the 56-year history of the Sebring sportscar endurance race previously contested by Derek Bell, Peter Collins, Mike Hawthorn and Stirling Moss.

“Sebring is a special, historic race and very important for a driver,” confirmed McNish who makes his sixth appearance in the annual race.

“I’m really looking forward to getting the season with Audi underway and there could be no better way than scoring my third Sebring 12 Hour victory.”

McNish and Dindo Capello, winners of the LM P1 American Le Mans Series titles for the past two years, are joined by record seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen (Denmark) in their Audi R10 TDI.

A second Audi Sport Team Joest entered R10 TDI is driven at Sebring by German trio Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner with Audi bidding for a ninth consecutive Sebring win – which would be the German manufacturer’s third successive victory with its ultra quiet and fuel efficient turbo-diesel engined sportscar.

Allan added: “The track is old and bumpy but also fast and flowing with lots of ‘character’. These extra demands add something to the event and make it one of the hardest races of the year for the car and driver – especially under the normally hot and intense Florida sunshine.

“In Sebring testing in January, the diesel Peugeot was very fast immediately despite it being its first laps at Sebring while we already know the speed of the Porsche and Acura from racing against them in America last year. This competition level means a four way battle for overall honours and Audi’s first ‘head to head’ with Peugeot since Le Mans last year.

“With over 130,000 fans attending, the event has a unique atmosphere with most turning up for the entire race week. The fans look upon Sebring as a pilgrimage to the extent the self named ‘Turn 10 Club’ have their own ‘unofficial’ entrance passes, grandstands, barbeque restaurant and beer tents for their annual ‘members’.”

McNish finished fourth overall, second in the LM P1 category, in last year’s Sebring race after losing over 30mins following two pit-stops due to an electrical issue having led the majority of the opening five hours.

“Last year we had some starter issues with the resulting pit stops dropping us out of contention for victory. But Dindo, Tom and I team up again to try and win another 12 Hours and add to Audi's winning streak,” concluded McNish.

The record distance achieved during the annual 12 Hour race using the current track configuration is 1,369 miles (370 laps), at an average speed of 113.983mph, set in 2001.