McNISH STARTS DAYTONA RACE FROM POLE-POSITION : allanmcnish.com

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McNISH STARTS DAYTONA RACE FROM POLE-POSITION

27 January 2012 | Posted in News

Allan McNish starts a Starworks Motorsport Riley Daytona-Prototype sportscar from pole-position on the 60-car grid for the Daytona 24 Hours on Saturday (28 January).

McNish’s co-driver, Ryan Dalziel, set the outright fastest time of 1min 41.119secs, an average speed of 126.74mph around the 3.56-mile Florida track in today’s (THURS) 15mins time trials – 0.121secs ahead of the Scotsman's closest rival.

“Ryan and the team did an incredible job as we were using a brand new car for the first time today,” commented Dumfries-born McNish.

“We’d missed the first morning practice session due to an engine issue so to be on the ‘pole’ is a real surprise after so little testing.

“But it’s a 24 hour race with a huge, quality field. We’ll need to be clean in traffic and make no mistakes as well as being fast to win this event – but there is not a better place to start a race than from pole”.

Dalziel’s achievement – his maiden Grand-Am pole-position – was all the more worthy of merit taking in to account he was driving a brand new Riley-Ford for the first time – the car having only turned a wheel for the first time earlier in the day.

Dalziel and Audi Sport “factory” driver McNish partner Lucas Luhr (D), plus Venezuelans Enzo Potolicchio and Alex Popow in the 50^th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

“Maybe sometimes the underdogs aren't supposed to beat the powerhouse teams,” said Dalziel. “I think the No. 8 car is not only going to be a contender this weekend but a contender for the entire year.”

Two final practice sessions that will not affect grid positions are staged tomorrow (FRI) with America’s only twice-around-the-clock race scheduled to start at 8.30pm UK time on Saturday evening.

Allan McNish – Daytona 24 Hours Formguide:

1998: 2^nd overall, 1^st GT1 (Champion Porsche).

1999: 2^nd o/a (Ferrari 333 SP) (Doyle Risi).

2000: Retired, engine. (Ferrari 333 SP) (Risi).

2001: Retired, engine. (Ferrari 333 SP) (Risi).

2005: Retired, engine. (Crawford Pontiac) (Howard Boss Motorsport).

2008: Retired, engine. (Riley Pontiac) (SAMAX).

2012: Riley-Ford (Starworks Motorsports).

The race can be viewed in UK:

EUROSPORT (UK)

“Live” broadcast times (GMT):

Saturday 28 January