Adelaide preview: McNish going for a win

The Scot only needs to start the race to be confirmed as the champion - only Rinaldo Capello can mathematically overhaul him, and he will be sharing McNish's Audi R8.

"I will definitely be going all out for another win," said McNish. "There is no better way to wrap up a championship and end a racing season with a victory. It's also important the four regular Audi drivers fill the top-four positions in the final points standings - we know what we must do. This title feels good coming after such a great season and the way we have won it is important. It has been an excellent team effort although you must keep fighting all of the time to keep on winning."

McNish arrives in Sydney on Christmas Eve, before heading west to Adelaide on 27 December: "I am going out early because it will be hot - up to 40 degrees Celsius and I need to get used to that kind of heat. I have never raced in Australia but have been there twice, both times to Melbourne."

The Scot celebrates his 31st birthday on December 29 by taking to the 2.36-mile, 14-corner street circuit for practice. The track is the same which was used for the Australian Grand Prix for 10 years until 1996.

"The R8 seems good on whatever type of track we race on, so I don't see the Adelaide track posing us a major problem," added McNish. "Panoz will be
quick and it's the home track of my long-time rival David Brabham, who is likely to drive their new car. I suspect low-speed grip to be the biggest problem, and of course the bumps which you always get on a street track."

The race is expected to be McNish's last ALMS race as he begins his Toyota F1 testing contract the day after the Adelaide race. His is expected, however, to be released from that to contest the Rolex 24 at Daytona in February.