Allan McNish will begin his quest for FIA World Endurance Championship glory at his home event, the Six Hours of Silverstone Six Hours.
The scot is joined in the Audi Sport Team Joest R18 e-tron quattro by Tom Kristensen and Loic Duval at all eight races across four continents, including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
McNish has won four Silverstone six hour races in his career, but the 2013 event will see the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy awarded for the first time.
“This year’s race will have a different feel due to it [unusually] being the first round of the championship, the fact that it’s in April and the RAC Tourist Trophy is up for grabs.” explained McNish. “The weather is likely to play a key role. It’s going to be changeable with rain almost a certainty which would suit our R18 e-tron quattro. It will definitely be colder than what we’ve experienced at Silverstone in either late August or September making tyre choice more difficult.
“I’m looking forward to immediately getting stuck in to this year’s WEC and very excited to begin with a race on ‘home turf’ – I’ll be aiming to make it a perfect start. The outright race winners’ collect the RAC Tourist Trophy which has been an integral part of British motor racing for over 100 years. It would make me very proud to lift the trophy. It’s the first time it has been presented for a sports-prototype race at Silverstone while a Dane has never won it so Tom will be determined as will of course our new co-driver Loïc Duval.”
Audi took the World Endurance Championship in 2012 with Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer taking the glory. All three drivers return to defend their crown for the 2013 season.
