Scotsman thwarted in attempt to win prestigious annual American 24 hour race in closing stages
Britains Allan McNish vowed to contest next years corresponding race after enduring disappointment in the 51st running of the Daytona 24 Hours which finished today (Sun 27 Jan).
Competing in a one-off race for the American Starworks Motorsport team, the Audi Sport factory driver along with co-drivers Ryan Dalziel (Scotland), Sbastien Bourdais (France) and Alex Popow (Venezuela), brought their Riley-Ford home in sixth place having frequently led the annual race.
Dumfries-born McNish was in contention for a fourth Daytona podium finish and possibly a maiden victory until two hours from the chequered flag in a thrilling, closely contested race.
It was a long, frustrating and sometimes cruel racea typical Daytona 24 Hours in fact! commented McNish.
We suffered a couple of punctures and some other issues but was still in the fight. With a little over two hours to run when placed fourth but with a podium definitely within our grasp, our car suffered a sticking accelerator which caused me to go off the track twice, thankfully without hitting anything.
With that rectified, I then almost immediately encountered a brake issue which cost us 11-laps making repairs in the pits before Ryan brought it home to the flag.
We lacked the outright pace and straight-line speed of the BMW-powered cars throughout, so we were forced to reduce our disadvantage in the way we set-up our Riley-Ford. But the Starworks Motorsport team did a fantastic job.
The McNish Riley Daytona-Prototype sportscar had begun Americas only twice-around-the-clock race on Saturday afternoon from seventh place courtesy of Dalziel in the 57-car field.
McNish, contesting the Floridian race for an eighth time, drove for over eight hours during three separate stints around the 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway road course staged in dry and warm weather conditions throughout. The Starworks Riley led on 11 different occasions during the race.
Allan McNishDaytona 24 Hours Formguide:
1998: 2nd overall, 1st GT1. Porsche (Champion Racing).
1999: 2nd overall. 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: 2nd overall, Riley-Ford (Starworks Motorsport).
2013: 6th overall, Riley-Ford (Starworks Motorsport).
(ends)
The 51st Rolex At Daytona Race Story for the ♯2 Starworks Motorsport Riley-Ford
47m, Dalziel, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Popow
Hour 1, 6th, -37.991s
1h 25m, Popow. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Bourdais
Hour 2, 3rd, -3.851s
2h 22m, Bourdais, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 36mins)
2h 25m, Bourdais, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
Hour 3, 2nd, -0.399s
3h 12m, Bourdais, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 6mins)
3h 16m, Bourdais, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to McNish (remains in lead after pit-stop)
3h 58m, McNish, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 15mins)
Hour 4, 1st, +42.329s
4h 17m, McNish, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 9mins)
4h 26m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
Hour 5, 6th, -13.702s
5h 27m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Dalziel
5h 30m, Dalziel, pits. No fuel drive through penalty (speeding in pit-lane previous pit-stop)
Hour 6, 5th, -69.281s
6h 17m, Dalziel, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
6h 30m, Dalziel, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 22mins)
Hour 7, 2nd, -0.007s
7h 24m, Dalziel, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Popow
Hour 8, 4th, -3.509s
8h 02m, Popow, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
Hour 9, 5th, -45.080s
9h 04m, Popow, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Bourdais
9h 31m, Bourdais, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
Hour 10, 6th, -17.347s
10h 25m, Bourdais, pits. Fuel only, adjusted right side of spoiler
Hour 11, 3rd, -9.941s
11h 21m, Bourdais, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 4mins)
11h 25m, Bourdais, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Allan McNish
Hour 12, 3rd, -47.492s
12h 04m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
12h 18m, McNish, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 10mins)
12h 39m, McNish, pits. Punctured front left tyre
Hour 13, 7th, -1 lap
Hour 14, 6th, -38.455s
14h 21m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Dalziel
Hour 15, 2nd, -11.701s
15h 20m, Dalziel, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 10mins)
15h 26m, Dalziel, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, front brakes
Hour 16, 2nd, -4.778s
16h 02m, Dalziel, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 79mins)
Hour 17, 1st, +23.467s
17h 22m, Dalziel, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to Popow
Hour 18, 5th, -41.747s
18h 8m, Popow, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, front nose (after damage from front right puncture) driver change to Bourdais
Hour 19, 6th, -122.783s
19h 47m, Bourdais, takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 2mins)
19h 50m, Bourdais, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
19h 55m, Bourdais, pits. Front nose radiator clean (after going off road)
Hour 20, 6th, -1 lap
20h 35m, Bourdais, CP6, pits. 4 tyres, fuel, driver change to McNish
Hour 21, 6th, -12.756s
21h 25m, Allan McNish takes the overall lead (♯2 leads for 4mins)
21h 27m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel
21h 42m, McNish, pits. 4 tyres, fuel working on sticking throttle
21h 50m, McNish, pits. Loss of brake fluid
Hour 22, 6th, -8 laps
Hour 23, 6th, -14 laps
Hour 24, 6th, -13 laps
