Silverstone Memories for McNish

“It was raining for the race and being naïve, hadn't realised the brake balance needed to go into the rear position. The wheels locked up at Copse Corner on the opening lap and I slid straight off.“That was a lesson I quickly learned from. Since then I've had some tremendous races at Silverstone and to win on the pioneering R10 TDI's British race début would be a truly memorable way to finish off my 2008 season after winning Le Mans this year.

”The 621-mile race will be McNish's first in Britain since 2005. Allan added: “The 2005 race was nose to tail in the closing laps – a perfect finale in Britain for the Audi R10 TDI's predecessor, the petrol-engined R8.“This will be my fourth race for Audi at Silverstone. I drove an Audi R8R in 2000 with Silverstone débutant Dindo Capello. We held the lead for over half the race but he was forced to pit for a final, brief fuel stop with six laps remaining.

“A top-three finish was still achievable but Dindo returned to the pits at the start of the last lap with broken rear suspension. As he drove down the pit lane I didn't hang around to see the pit-stop – I headed for the transporter and started to take off my overalls – I felt gutted.

”Unbeknown to McNish, the Audi Sport North America team had waved Capello straight out of the pits in an attempt for him to nurse the Audi around for one final lap. But with a top-three result seemingly lost and Capello trying to control his three-wheeling Audi, "lady luck" then smiled on the distraught McNish."

The Panoz stopped half a lap from the chequered flag which elevated us back up to third place," added McNish. "I was pulling up my trousers in the transporter when one of the team ran in and told me to put my overalls back on because we'd finished third and was required to go on the winners' rostrum for the prize giving - I couldn't believe it.“That's two embarrassing mistakes I've made at Silverstone and I'm not going to be caught with my pants down for a third time!”