Allan McNish claimed a magnificent victory in the inaugural Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston last night. The 36-year-old Scotsman and Italian co-driver Rinaldo Capello cruised to a dominant five-lap victory in their “factory” Audi R8 in the 165-minute race - the second round of the American Le Mans Series.

The McNish/Capello Audi started the sportscar endurance race from fourth place on the 23-car grid but excellent pit-strategy and utilising the five-year-old R8’s petrol direct injection fuel-saving technology to its maximum, allowed the Anglo-Italian combination to extend their series lead. 

McNish confirmed:  “We reverted back to the older R8 as our new diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI remains in Europe being prepared for the Le Mans 24 Hours next month. “We won the opening ALMS race at Sebring in the R10 TDI and now here at Houston in the old R8 - possibly one of the hardest races for this car on a very demanding, bumpy and slippery circuit - not ideal for a car originally designed for Le Mans.  “Dindo [Capello] was superb in his opening stint and the team very clever with its pit-stops in a very tough race. I’m proud to have achieved another win for the Audi R8.”

Allan is bidding for a third consecutive 2006 ALMS victory when he contests next round next weekend (19-21 May) at Mid-Ohio. – 13 May 2006