Audi recorded first and second places in the Sebring 12 Hours endurance sportscar race in Florida for a record equalling sixth consecutive year with Scotland’s Allan McNish narrowly failing to claim a second successive victory in a nail-biting finish today (SAT).
 
The McNish/Emanuele Pirro/Frank Biela Audi R8 started the American Le Mans Series opener alongside the pole-starting “sister” Champion Audi of reigning ALMS champions JJ Lehto (Finland) and Marco Werner (Germany) plus Tom Kristensen (Denmark) under a cloudless blue sky.
 
Pirro led the early stages around the 3.7-mile, 17-corner track but two separate stop-go penalties given by race officials when the Italian contacted slower cars inside the opening two hours lost valuable time. 
 
Shortly before mid-distance a full course yellow enabled 35-year-old Dumfries-born McNish to close within three seconds of the leading Audi and then, with almost seven hours run, leader Kristensen pitted earlier than scheduled suffering from cramp which handed McNish a 57-secs lead. 
 
A fourth safety car period, with 3½ hours to run and now in darkness, cancelled out a 39-secs lead held by McNish/Biela/Pirro over their Audi team-mates, the two Champion Audis now engaged in a furious duel for race victory with less than three hours remaining.
 
With two hours remaining, Werner led McNish by 21-secs, with 60-minutes to go, Kristensen now at the wheel, the interval was 9-secs and after the final pit-stop with 50-minutes to run, 22-secs. 
 
The Lehto/Werner/Kristensen Audi R8 ultimately earned the Florida-based Champion Racing team its maiden Sebring triumph by 6.365-secs of McNish - after three consecutive Sebring runner-up placings - in front of a record-breaking 180,000 crowd.
 
McNish commented:  “This must go down as the most exciting race I’ve ever contested. To be separated by seven seconds after 12 hours of hard, no holds barred racing is amazing.  The lead changed so may times between the two Audis.  My only other scheduled sportscar race this year is at Le Mans in June and I aim to win that one again - especially after narrowly missing out here.”  - 19 March 2005