Allan McNish, the former racing driver and three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner, has taken on the role of racing director for Audi’s Formula One team as the German manufacturer makes its debut on the F1 grid this year. Known for his extensive motorsport expertise and competitive spirit, McNish is embracing the significant challenge that comes with leading a new team in one of the most demanding and high-profile motorsport arenas.

The 56-year-old Scot, who hails from Dumfries, brings a unique perspective to the role, combining his experience behind the wheel with the strategic demands of team leadership. McNish, a former Formula One test driver for McLaren and Benetton and a full-season driver for Toyota in 2002, acknowledges the intensity of Formula One, where deficiencies are swiftly exposed and success is fiercely contested. Despite this, he said he remains connected to the sport’s competitive core, viewing his new responsibilities through the lens of a driver.

“It’s a lot of fun because at the end I’m a racing person and we’re racing. That’s what it’s all about,” McNish said in Hungary, where Audi is competing this season. He described his role as “living every lap and every corner” alongside drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabi Bortoleto, maintaining a close empathy with their viewpoint as he draws on his racing background to guide the team.

McNish’s career highlights include victories at Le Mans with Porsche in 1998 and multiple wins with Audi in 2008 and 2013. Throughout 14 appearances at the endurance classic, he stood on the podium 16 times, achieving 29 wins and three world endurance championship titles. He also boasts multiple wins at other prestigious endurance events including the Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans, as well as numerous podium finishes at the Daytona 24 Hours.

Following his driving career, McNish continued his involvement with Audi by transitioning to management roles. In 2017, he became team principal of Audi’s Formula E squad and led the team to a constructors’ championship in the electric racing series’ inaugural season.

Audi’s entry into Formula One marks a major step for the company, which has a storied history in rallying and endurance racing but faces a new landscape in the global pinnacle of single-seater motorsport. McNish’s blend of direct racing experience and managerial success positions him as a key figure in the team’s efforts to establish itself among the F1 elite.