Allan McNish has become the first British driver this year to secure an international motor racing championship title.  The 36-year-old Scotsman has won the prestigious American Le Mans Series driver's crown for a second time in an Audi.

Dumfries-born McNish and Italian co-driver Dindo Capello have written motorsport history by becoming the first drivers of a diesel-powered sportscar to win an internationally acclaimed championship. McNish and Capello steered their Audi R10 TDI home to a hard-earned victory in the latest round at Mosport yesterday to secure the ALMS title with two races remaining.

The McNish/Capello Audi had started the 165-minute race around the 2.459-mile, 10-corner Mosport International Raceway near Toronto from second place on the 22-car grid after heavy rain forced organisers to cancel qualifying the previous day.

"I'm very pleased that Dindo and I have wrapped up the Drivers' title in such a hard race and ultimately the sixth victory for the R10 TDI," confirmed McNish who also won the 2000 ALMS title for Audi before moving on to Formula One.

Allan added:  "Audi's diesel sportscar made history when Dindo, Tom and I won at Sebring, then when Frank, Emanuele and Marco won at Le Mans and now Dindo and I have made history by winning an international championship with a diesel which makes me proud. I'm also very happy for Dindo who missed out on the ALMS title with me in 2000." – 4 September 2006