Allan McNish answers 24 questions

... reflecting on the 24 days since achieving his third and Audis 12th Le Mans 24 Hour race victory while the Monaco-based Scotsman also looks ahead to the next 24 days and beyond.  1. After the Le Mans winner's rostrum ceremony, what did you do?After the podium ceremony Tom, Loic and I were taken into a room to make a handprint in clay that is then turned in to bronze, with our signatures, set into the pavement in the town centre, and officially unveiled at a ceremony during race week next year. Then we did audio and video recordings for Audi and on to the Media Centre for a formal press conference. Step outside and journalists are lined-up wanting one-on-one-interviews. From there we went from one end of the pit building to the other to meet the Audi Sport Team Joest guys. Remember that Tom, Loc and I hadnt been together since just before I got in the Audi on the starting grid the previous day and likewise we hadnt seen many team members since early Saturday afternoon. We walked down into the back of our pits carrying the trophies and it was a fantastic atmosphere, the team were already celebrating with champagne and beer. Everyone is immensely satisfied, happy and relievedplus very tiredand the next 30minutes is a series of hugs and smiles to everyone that has put so much effort into Audis 12th Le Mans victory.  From there I went to our small cabin, each car has one for its three drivers to use as home for a week, to pack my kitbag which Ill see again at the next race in Brazil plus another bag with my personal belongings that I take home. I did a couple more interviews, one live into BBC Radio 5live. Then I went to Audi Sports team hospitality facility to get something to eat. Dr Ullrich, Head of Audi Sport, welcomed us into the unit as winners of the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hour race. Then it was back to the pitbox to have a photograph taken with the big Le Mans trophy, our weather and race stained R18, Loc, Tom and our No1 engineer Kyle Wilson-Clarke. I guess this was around 8pm.2. When did you leave the track?Around six hours after the chequered flag had dropped, I left the circuit and went for dinner in the town with some close friends and team-mates. There wasnt the mood to have massive celebrations with what had happened early in the race. I was back at the hotel for midnight.3. Who was the first person you telephoned after the race?My Dad and Mum. Neither were at the race but both have been massive supporters throughout my career, enduring the good and bad times.4. Where is your Le Mans trophy?Sitting next to my other Le Mans trophies at home in Monaco. Three winner [1998, 2008/13], two seconds [2000/12] and four thirds [2005/06/09/10]. I keep my non Le Mans trophies in Dumfries.5. Have you watched a recording of the race on TV?Ive had no time to watch any race footage but I lived it live so I know exactly what it was like from start to finish!6. Who has been the most interesting person to congratulate you on your third LM24 victory?Ive been congratulated by so many people. Not only the sportscar fraternity but when Im walking through the Formula One paddocks at Silverstone and at the Nrburgring but I was touched to be congratulated by six-time [cycling] Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy, Britain's most successful Olympian and an MBE [Most Excellent Order of the British Empire].7. When did you get home to Monaco?The day after the race [Monday]. I went via train from Le Mans to Paris then flew to Nice. Lucas di Grassi and Toyotas Alex Wurz were on the same flight. On arrival, my wife Kelly and I went to the school to collect our children, Finlay and Charlotte. Funnily enough I beat Alex again as he and his wife headed to the same school to collect their kids.8. Did you have a "celebration" meal with friends in Monaco?Unfortunately David Coulthard and Paul di Resta were missing but around 20 of us got together for a shindig. Alex Wurz brought around an Austrian cakehe obviously wants me to put on weight for the remaining WEC races!9. Since Le Mans, how many full days have you spent in Monaco?Not enough! Seriously, I think its five.10. Have you done a "school run" since your victory?Many of the parents know that I race and they gave me big hugslike theyd done after my Le Mans accident two years agobut this time for very different reasons.11. Where have you been over the past 24 days?Some trips had been planned while others have come up purely as a result of winning Le Mans. A couple of days after getting home, I went to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix for BBC 5live. Straight from there I met up with Tom and Loc at Ingolstadt in Germany, Audis main production plant, then to Neckarsulm the next day, Audis engine facility, in each case to showcase our winning R18 e-tron quattro to the workforce and sign autographs. I was also at the German Grand Prix, went back to Audi Sport in Ingolstadt for a Le Mans debrief, was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England then returned to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm for works council meetings, so its been busy, busy, busy.12. Have you sat in the Le Mans winning R18 since your last stint at Le Mans on Sunday morning?I drove it at Goodwood before it being retired into Audis Museum. I pushed the old girl on a bit on the third and final day and gave the dashboard a farewell kiss. 13. What in terms of office work have you completed post-race?I had literally hundreds of text and emails never mind Twitter and Facebook messages so replying to each one kept me pretty busy. Also technical paperwork had to be done. As soon as one race finishes youre already looking ahead to the next. Our reports, and all of the Audi drivers complete one, features all the good and bad elements about the entire week covering every area of Le Mans so improvements can be made for next year. These reports are as important when you win as when you lose.14. Have you seen Loc Duval and Tom Kristensen, or your No1 engineer Kyle Wilson-Clarke, since the race?I was with Loc and Tom at the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm events while Kyle was also in the Audi Sport workshop there preparing our car for Brazil so we had a chat.15. Will you wear the crash helmet, gloves, race suit, boots etc that you used at Le Man again?I will keep one of the helmets I used as a souvenir while Ive given the pair of gloves to some very good friends, the rest Ill be wearing at the Brazil race.16. When did you begin training again?As is normal after Le Mans, I was mentally very tired and had little energy. Its important you let your body recover before starting any exercises again so I had a few days off in that respect. My first run was in the Silverstone area at the GP but because of how busy Ive been with travelling combined with all of the functions, its been very difficult to get back into a sustained training regime.17. What do the next 24 days have in store for you?Ill be testing, attending the Hungarian Grand Prix as an FIA Steward, at an Audi Cup soccer match in Munich, at Castrol plus a P&H personal sponsor event in the UK, at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix for BBC 5live, taking a short break with the phone off, then off to Brazil for round 4 of the FIA World Endurance Championship. 18. Have you visited Scotland since the win?Unfortunately I havent been able to get back and its looking like September or October now but Mum and Dad are hopefully coming out to Monaco to spend some time here.19. What means more to you - a third LM24 race win or a 30pt lead in the WEC?Without doubt winning Le Mans. A points lead means nothing until the chequered flag drops in Bahrain in November.20. Which remaining WEC race are you most looking forward to?All of them but if I have to chose, the Circuit Of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Ive not been but it sounds like its an old school circuit while being a modern up-to-date facility.21. Which remaining WEC race are you least looking forward to?None.22. What will be your strategy in the remaining WEC races?To win! I start every race with just one thing in mind and thats winning.23. Will you be taking a holiday any time soon?Ill be staying in Monaco but will have a short break in August.24. You are the most successful British driver at Le Mans since Derek Bell in the late 1980s, is it your intention to go back to Le Mans next year and bid for a fourth outright race victory?I saw Derek [Bell] at Goodwood recently and he told me his tally of five wins are now in sight for me but well see about that!

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