2001 has been one of the most exciting years of Allan
McNish’s career. Allan’s appointment as Race Driver
for the Toyota Formula One team in the 2002 Grand Prix season
has come as a result of hard work and dedication from the Dumries
born Scot. His efforts for the Japanese marque as Official Test
Driver in 2001 have paid dividends and his reward will be to
line up on the F1 grid in Melbourne 2002, partnering Mika Salo
as Toyota's first ever F1 drivers.
Having previously driven for Toyota in the 1999 Le Mans
24 Hour Race, Allan is familiar with their structure and many
of the team personnel. His relationship with the team during
this period and his ability to provide detailed feedback convinced
Toyota to secure his services for their Formula One project.
Toyota is Japan’s largest car manufacturer and the third
largest in the world.
The 31 year old is no stranger to the demands of preparing
and developing Formula One cars, previously fulfilling testing
duties for the McLaren and Benetton F1 teams. Toyota’s entry
into Formula One through Toyota Motorsport GmbH displays a serious
bid to capitalise on an already successful motorsport pedigree.
Four World Rally Championship titles for Drivers, three for Manufacturers
plus Pole Position, fastest lap and second in the Le Mans 24
Hour race all stand out to date.
In 2000 Allan won the American Le Mans Series (ALMS),
competing for German automotive giants Audi. This 12 round championship
reproduces the atmosphere created by the Le Mans 24 Hour race
and is the most competitive Sportscar series in the world. Races
were held in America, Britain, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Allan, partnered in the Audi R8 by Rinaldo Capello dominated
the Drivers Championship with six victories and a total of ten
podium appearances from 12 rounds. His stunning form behind the
wheel also helped Audi to the Manufacturers title.
Winner of the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hour Race, McNish returned
to the legendary endurance race in 2000 with Audi. Having previously
driven for Toyota (1999) and Porsche (1998), McNish was well
aware of what to expect when he lined up on the grid at La Sarthe.
He was partnered in the Audi squad with his team-mates from 1998,
Laurent Aiello and Stephane Ortelli. 2000 saw the marque dominate
the podium, claiming all three spots, with Allan finishing second,
having claimed pole position and fastest race lap.
Allan previously enjoyed the backing of Porsche, where
he competed in the FIA GT Championship finishing 5th overall
in the Drivers Championship in 1998, winning Le Mans the same
year. In 1997 he claimed three wins for the marque in the North
American GT Championship.
Allan can boast wins in International F3000, the traditional
preparing ground for Formula One, and second place in the British
Formula Three series with five wins. Along the way Allan’s
achievements have been recognised with a succession of trophies
including, the John Cobb Trophy for Best British Driver, British
Racing Drivers Club Graham Hill Trophy and Autosport’s National
Driver of the Year award.
Background:
Born- Dumfries, Scotland on 29 December 1969.
Lives -Warfield, England.
2002
Official Toyota Formula One Driver
2001
Official Toyota Formula One Test Driver
Daytona 24 Hours - Risi Ferrari - Fastest Lap.
2000
Official Audi Driver in Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series - Overall Winner and Prototype Class
Winner.
1st Overall Petit Le Mans, 1st Overall Adelaide Race of 1000
Years, 2nd Overall Sebring 12 Hours,
6 Wins, 10 Podium Positions, 4 Pole Positions, 7 Fastest Laps
and 6 Lap Records.
Le Mans 24 Hours - 2nd Overall, Pole Position and Fastest Lap.
Fastest in Pre-Qualification.
Voted onto the "All-America Auto Racing Team" by the
AARWBA.
Winner - Horsepower Award by the AARWBA
Winner - British Racing Drivers Club Silverstone/Le Mans Challenge
Trophy.
Winner - Scottish Motor racing Club William Lyons/Billy Smith
Trophy.
Official Toyota Formula One Test Driver.
1999
Official Toyota Driver in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Official Porsche Driver.
Rolex Daytona 24 Hours - Risi Ferrari - 2nd Overall & Lap
Record.
1998
Official Porsche Driver.
Le Mans 24 Hours - Overall Winner & GT1 Class Winner. Fastest
in Pre-Qualification.
Rolex Daytona 24 Hours - GT1 Class Winner and 2nd Overall.
FIA GT Championship - 5th Overall, 5 Podium Positions, 1 Pole
positions and 1 Lap Record.
Inaugural Petit Le Mans - Pole Position & Lap Record.
Winner Jim Clark Memorial Award.
Winner British Racing Drivers Club Fairfield Trophy.
Winner Club Des Pilotes Eric Thomas Trophy.
1997
Official Porsche Driver.
North American GT Championship - Winner of 3 races, 1 Pole position
and 2 Lap records.
1996
Test driver for Benetton Formula One Team.
1995
International Formula 3000 with Paul Stewart Racing.
Two pole positions and several podiums finishes.
1994
Selected races in International Formula 3000 and Lola Formula
One Test Driver.
1993
Test Driver for Benetton Formula One team.
1992 & 1991
Test Driver for McLaren Formula One team and racing in International
Formula 3000.
1990
4th Overall in the International Formula 3000 Championship with
2 wins, 1 Pole Position and Lap Record.
Winner of the British Racing Drivers Club John Cobb Trophy for
Best British Driver.
Test driver for McLaren International Formula One team.
1989
2nd in the British Formula 3 Championship with 5 wins.
Winner of the British Racing Drivers Club Graham Hill Trophy.
Winner of the Autosport Magazine National Driver of the year
award.
1988
Winner - Vauxhall Lotus Championship with 5 wins.
3rd Overall in the European Opel Lotus Championship with 1 win.
Winner of the Cellnet Young Driver of the Year.
Winner of the British Racing Drivers Club trophy for the Most
Promising Young Driver.
Winner of the Autosport Magazine Club Driver of the Year award.
Winner of the Scottish Motor Racing Club trophy for Best Performance
in International Racing.
1987
2nd in the Dunlop Autosport Formula Ford Championship.
3rd in the Townsend Thoreson Championship.
5th in the International Formula Ford Festival.
1981- 1986
Karting
3rd in the 1985 World Championships.
3rd in the 1985 Italian Grand Prix.
3 time British Champion.
6 time Scottish Champion.
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