Audi ace McNish awarded prestigious Segrave Trophy

The 39-year-old Audi sportscar ace succeeds reigning Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton and was presented with the trophy by Sir David Prosser, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, at an awards luncheon at The RAC club in Pall Mall, London, today (14 July).

McNish, who became the first Briton to win Le Mans driving a diesel-engined sportscar last year, received the Segrave Trophy - named in honour of the world land and water speed record holder Sir Henry Segrave and is awarded to a British subject for outstanding achievements in transport on land, water or in the air.

"I'm very proud to receive the Segrave Trophy," commented Dumfries-born Allan. "When I look at the achievements of Sir Henry Segrave himself, he really does epitomize the spirit of adventure, all the qualities that any racing driver would love to have.

"When you add into that the list of people like Sir Malcolm Campbell, Sir Jackie Stewart, Barry Sheene, and others who have actually been presented with this award on two and four wheels, on land, sea and in the air, it's really a who's who of sport and adventure.

"I feel very honoured that my name has been added to that list, especially after a long career and also after a fantastic 2008 season. To cap it all off with this fantastic award I feel very privileged."

Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Segrave Trophy Nominations Committee, added: "Allan [McNish] is an exceptional individual who has successfully established himself at the forefront of sportscar racing across the world and with wins in every major sportscar race in Europe and North America, his record speaks for itself."

Former Segrave Trophy recipients present today included Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Martin Brundle, world land speed record holder Andy Green, and Scottish lady rally driver Louise Aitken-Walker.

Audi Sport "factory" driver McNish has clearly demonstrated these qualities in a motorsport career spanning almost 30 years. A former triple British Kart Champion, Allan won the 1988 Formula Vauxhall Championship, narrowly missed out on winning the 1989 British Formula 3 title and was an "official" Formula One test driver at McLaren and Benetton.

While performing his test driver duties, McNish turned his attention to sportscars and success quickly followed taking his first overall win at Le Mans in 1998 as well as victory in the Daytona 24 Hours.

In 2000, Allan claimed the first of three American Le Mans Series titles - his first season with Audi - and signed later that year as Toyota's F1 test driver, making his F1 Grand Prix debut in 2002. After two years in F1, Allan returned to Audi and sportscar racing in 2004 and quickly re-established himself as a leading driver, with victory in the Sebring 12 Hours as well as wins in the LMES 1000km races at Silverstone and the Nurburgring in an Audi UK supported R8 sports-prototype.

He went on to lift the ALMS titles in 2006 and 2007 - each courtesy of pioneering Audi diesel engine technology and added a second overall 24 Hours of Le Mans title in 2008.

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Credits: JRC