McNish vs Davidson: Face-to-face
Allan McNish and Anthony Davidson are the two Brits most likely to take top honours in the 79th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours. Gary Watkins caught up with the pair and pitched them in to quick battle of wits ahead the 2011 event
AUTOSPORT caught up with the two British drivers in the running to win the 79th Le Mans 24 Hours and asked the key questions about the big race this weekend.
Here's what Audi's Allan McNish and Peugeot driver Anthony Davidson had to say...
Q. Who will win the race?
Allan McNish: I can't tell you.
Anthony Davidson: A diesel-powered car!
Q. What are Audi's strengths and what are Peugeot's strengths?
McNish: Audi's strength is its metronomic way of winning big races and an ability to react in a clever and balanced fashion in adverse situations. Peugeot's strengths are raw speed and passion, but as we saw last year those can be weaknesses as well as strengths.
Davidson: Audi's strength is single-lap pace and switching on the tyres for one lap. Our strengths are the driver line-up, reliability and an ability to keep the tyres alive through a stint.
 Allan McNish © LAT
|
Q. How many diesels will run through the race without major problems?
McNish: Probably three.
Davidson: That's the golden question. I think just two. Whoever gets through the race without any problems whatsoever out of the six factory cars is going to win the race.
Q. What will the pole time be?
McNish: 3m26s
Davidson: It could possibly a low 3m25.
Q. What will the gap be between Audi and Peugeot in qualifying?
McNish: Three tenths of a second.
Davidson: If two cars have clear runs it will be no more than five to eight tenths.
Q. What will the gap be to the first petrol-powered car in qualifying?
McNish: No idea.
Davidson: Unfortunately it is irrelevant
Q. How many laps will you do on the fuel?
McNish: I'm not going to tell you that.
Davidson: I don' t really know, so let's say 10 to 12.
 Anthony Davidson © LAT
|
Q. What will be the surprise of the race?
McNish: The LMP2 winner. I don't know who it will be, but I'm sure it will be a surprise and not one of the fancied teams.
Davidson: I just feel the weather is going to be the surprise. I've done three Le Mans races now and I've never driven in the rain, so I have the feeling it is going to catch up with me.
Q. How long will the best of the new Aston Martin LMP1s last?
McNish: I hope it's 24 hours. We shouldn't be knocking them when they are down.
Davidson: I know they won't give up, so I'd say 16 hours.
When Nissan should have won Le Mans
Why the 2026 Le Mans 24 Hours looks like the hardest race to call
Why WEC is in a great place heading into the Le Mans 24 Hours
The strategic gamble that ended BMW's WEC winless streak
The 10 best GT3 cars since group debut in 2006
How over the course of two decades GT3 became modern motorsport’s greatest success
Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties
How "making no mistakes" was pivotal in Toyota pipping Ferrari at WEC 2026 opener
Vasseur to skip F1 Monaco GP Saturday due to medical checks
Why Audi is opposing major F1 engine changes for 2027
Top 10 Le Mans Ferraris ranked: Testa Rossa, P4, 499P and more
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments