Tue, Apr 15, 2014
Scotsman awarded Segrave Trophy for second time
Reigning world sports car champion Allan McNish has been awarded the prestigious Segrave Trophy for the second time in his illustrious career.
The Dumfries-born driver who announced his retirement from Audi’s Le Mans sports-prototype racing programme four months ago, was awarded the silverware at the Royal Automobile Club in London today (Tuesday 15 Apr, 1300).
McNish became the first Briton to claim the Tourist Trophy – by winning the Silverstone 6 Hour race last April – the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship all in the same year.
“I am extremely honoured to receive this prestigious trophy again,” commented Allan. “I have tried to tick all the boxes in my racing career, and excel in every kind of racing I have taken part in.
“I’d also like to accept it on behalf of all those who have helped me achieve success in my career, both those in the teams I have raced with, and especially my family.”
McNish contested 89 races since making his Audi sportscar debut in 2000 scoring 66 top-three “podiums” – including 29 outright race wins – for “factory” or “customer” Audi teams that also netted three American Le Mans Series titles.
Heralded as the world’s greatest sportscar driver in recent years, Monaco-based McNish won the Le Mans 24 Hour races in 1998, 2008 and last year – scoring a further six top-three “podiums” in his 14 attempts in the legendary French “marathon”.
Allan added: “Jackie Stewart told me that this was probably one of the most prestigious trophies I could win in my career, and to win it twice is just incredible.
“I was moved seeing some of the previous [Segrave] winners today and noting their achievements.”
Tom Purves, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said: “Two of the qualities we award the Segrave Trophy for are outstanding skill and courage.
“Allan certainly showed his skill and natural talent from his earliest days in a racing car. He has also proved himself in one of the toughest areas of motorsport; 24-hour endurance racing.
“In awarding him this trophy again, the Club is acknowledging those essential qualities as much as the considerable achievement of winning the Tourist Trophy, Le Mans and the [World] Championship in the same season. As he retires, we honour one of this country’s great racing drivers.”
The Segrave Trophy is named after British pilot and pre-war racing driver Sir Henry Segrave who pushed himself and his machines to the very limit in the pursuit of ultimate speed.
He was the first man to hold both land and water speed records, though the latter would cost him his life in 1930. With such drive and determination in mind, the trophy is awarded for ‘outstanding skill, courage and initiative on land, water and in air – the Spirit of Adventure’.
Previous holders of the trophy include Amy Johnson (1932), Donald Campbell (1958), Sir Jackie Stewart (1973) and Carl Fogarty (1994).
McNish will be present at Silverstone on Easter Sunday (20 Apr) for the opening race in this year’s WEC in the role as an Audi Sport ambassador. Audi has won the corresponding Six Hour race at Silverstone for the past two years.
