Allan McNish
Allan McNish
Allan McNishis a British former racing driver, commentator, and journalist from Scotland. He is a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, most recently in 2013, as well as a three-time winner of the American Le Mans Series, which he last won in 2007. He won the FIA World Endurance Championshipin 2013. He is also a co-commentator and pundit for BBC Formula One coverage on TV, radio and online...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth29 December 1969
commitment night focus
To be a racing driver it's essential you have very good eyesight, and that's especially relevant at night. Your senses are heightened, you're travelling over 200mph, you need to focus on that 110-metre braking point and you have to have absolute faith and commitment in your driving.
blast car endurance engineers fun great job preparing rhythm trouble
This was the first real endurance test, we encountered trouble but nothing we couldn't overcome. The engineers did a great job preparing for things that could go wrong. The car's rhythm was really good, it was fun to really blast the car around the track.
endurance natural share trouble
We had our share of trouble today, but that's natural in development. This was the first real endurance test. We encountered trouble, but nothing we couldn't overcome.
miles
I don't do much driving - about 5,000-6,000 miles a year. And most of that is to the airport and to the racing circuits.
fighting winning reality
As a driver you enjoy winning races, and if you win in the easiest way possible, fine, but in reality we all remember the fights to the end, the nip and tuck stuff.
car waiting ferrari
I clipped a Ferrari, hit the gravel trap at a fair old speed, which lifted the car up into the barrier, and then rolled a few times. I had no injuries or anything - I just had to wait for the marshals to right the car before I could get out.
son car racing
It was not until I started racing for car manufacturers that I found a car I could really get attached to. I am the son of a car dealer, so up until then, cars just came and went.
weekend thinking race
I think music can really affect people's emotions and, when I am about to get into a race car, I definitely listen to music with a good beat - that's when you've got the adrenalin pumping. And the time before you go into a race weekend, you have a lot of emotion and adrenalin, and a lot of focus.
morning believe boys
My very first car was a grey Alfa Romeo Alfasud, which I got in 1987. But, in our family, all cars were for sale - so they might be there in the morning and were gone at night. In the mid-90s, I joined Porsche and the Carrera was the car, and the Carrera 4S was the one they gave me. As a wee boy from Dumfries, I couldn't believe it.
thinking mirrors texting
I think that texting and driving is a 100 percent no-go. I think it should be banned everywhere because you cannot be focused on looking ahead, in the mirrors, being aware of what's around you, and to type on a small keyboard and a small screen.
airports years racing
I don't do much driving - about 5,000-6,000 miles a year. And most of that is to the airport and to the racing circuits.
sports boys listening
I have been listening to sport and watching sport on the BBC since I was a tiny boy.
hurt winning opportunity
I have been waiting to win a world championship since 1985. I've had three cracks at a world title - in karting, I finished third at Le Mans; that hurt because it was very close, but then in Formula One there wasn't really an opportunity to finally crack it, so it's third time lucky.
sleep eye car
I try to get away from the pits as quickly as I can. I speak to my engineer when I get out of the car, usually there's some press to do, then I will go off and have a shower and get my dry, clean overalls and clothing on. I'll have a massage, stretch and something to eat. I don't sleep, but I try to close my eyes for a while.