Back injury threatens McNish title bid

McNish, who will spend 2001 testing for Toyota's new Formula One team, needs only to start the 'Race of a Thousand Years' in Adelaide on New Year's Eve to claim the ALMS title. However, the injury forced him to sit out today's qualifying session and he may yet be declared unfit to race. If that happens, his Audi team-mate Rinaldo Capello only has to finish higher than fifth to take the championship. Capello qualified on pole for tomorrow's race in the Audi R8 he has shared with the Scot all season.

McNish suffered a back twinge while picking up his suitcase at the airport, then had another while slipping out of the kilt he wore for the photo shoot.

Audi's team physician Dr Christian John prescribed rest and the Scotsman also had a precautionary x-ray.

"You know Allan, he's determined to race," said an Audi spokesman, "but Audi is concerned that he doesn't cause himself permanent damage."

A final decision should be made on race day morning. Australian Brad Jones, who won his national Super Touring Championship in an Audi A4 in 1996, has been called up as a potential replacement if McNish cannot race.