Success began at an early age for the proud Scotsman from Dumfries, with titles in karting and junior racing classes, along with representing Great Britain in the World Karting Championships.
From his first taste with Constructors' Champions McLaren at the age of 19 in 1989, Allan’s Formula One involvement spans almost 15 years, racing for Toyota along with test driver roles with Benetton, McLaren and Renault.
Allan is among sportscar racing's elite. With Porsche and Audi he joined an exclusive club of three-time winners of the notoriously demanding 24 Hours of Le Mans, became FIA WEC World Champion with Audi, he has won three American Le Mans Series titles, and is the most successful British driver in America’s revered Sebring 12 Hour, with four wins.
A former factory Audi driver in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Allan's commitments include being an Audi Ambassador, media duties for BBC F1 & BBC Radio 5 Live, FIA Formula One Driver Steward roles, and he is proud to be the President of the Scottish Motor Racing Club.
• Race driver for Toyota
• Test driver for
Benetton, McLaren,
Renault & Toyota
• Audi Ambassador
• BBC Formula 1 Co-Commentator
• Two Time Segrave Trophy Winner (2009/2014)
• Awarded The BRDC Gold Star
• Inducted into the Le Mans Hall of Fame
• President of the Scottish Motor Racing Club
• Awarded the BARC Gold Medal
Formula One
• Race and test driver
for Toyota
• Renault test driver
Open-wheel racing
• Vauxhall Lotus
Championship
• Formula 3000 and
Formula 3 race wins
Audi Ambassador Allan McNish waved the green flag signalling the start of the Rolex 24 at Daytona yesterday (24 Jan). McNish, the 2013 FIA World Endurance Champion with Audi Sport Team Joest, got the 53rd running of this year's race featuring 53-cars underway around the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway in Florida.
"It was an honour to throw the green flag to start the race, one in which I've competed in many times," reflected McNish. "Standing on the gantry which leans over the banked section of the track with the cars roaring past was an amazing experience and an awesome sight.
"I always loved starting a race. After all of the planning, testing, practice and qualifying, what I'd waited for was suddenly about to get underway. Daytona was always a lot of fun because it began the year's racing activities.
"It was a proud moment. I was presented with the Green flag that I'd waved and took the opportunity to get it signed by the official race starter Dennis Paul. He 'started' every American Le Mans Series race over the past 15 years - many of which I raced in."
It was the first time in Allan's motorsport career that the Dumfries-born race ace had ever started a race. The Le Mans race organisers appointed the Scotsman as Grand Marshal for the 24-hour race last June and he duly drove an Audi R8 LMX, the brand’s first production model with laser high-beam light, at the head of the field on the final pace-car lap prior to the race start.
McNish, himself a three-time Daytona 24 Hour race runner-up, was on hand to keep a watching brief on two Audi R8 LMS sports cars that claimed fifth and 10th in the GTD class.
Due to Allan’s success and professional approach, many companies have wished to be associated with the Scotsman. Allan is proud to currently work with:
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