Grapevine: McNish Sorry to Miss Le Mans

Renault driver Allan McNish has revealed his disappointment at missing out on the Le Mans 24-Hour race this weekend because of his two-hour testing duties for the Renault team at the Canadian Grand Prix.

McNish took part in the two-hour private test at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for Renault on Friday morning, but his requirements for the French team forced him to miss the Le Mans race.

The Scot, a former winner of the sportscar endurance race, had wanted to be part of favourites Bentley's driver line-up, which includes former Grand Prix drivers Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell.

"There are not many British drivers who wouldn't like to be part of a Bentley squad at Le Mans, with the tradition of Bentley and the British support," McNish said.

"Unfortunately this weekend clashed, which put the nail in the coffin of that, but it is something that looks really good on your CV. They are well ahead of the opposition, there is no question about that, in terms of outright speed and also speed over the 24 hours.

"The only thing that is slightly against them is the fact that the Audi is bullet-proof, it certainly has been up until now. If they do have one small slip-up there is going to be an Audi there to pick up the pieces. But they have done their homework I think and they should be in a pretty strong position."

McNish will instead act as a television pundit for British television broadcaster ITV on race day as he stands in for the absent Blundell.