Allan McNish to have dual Audi Sport role after retirement

Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich explained that McNish, who announced his retirement from front-line competition in January, would act as a conduit between the German manufacturer's WEC driving squad and its engineering staff and play a role in driver development.

McNish, who will be present at seven of the eight WEC races this year, will also help with Audi's relations with motorsport organisers, with particular regard to the United SportsCar Championship.

Ullrich said: "Allan will be with the team at the races and one of his responsibilities will take care that the thoughts of the drivers come the quickest way to the development people."

McNish's driver development role has already resulted in Audi LMP1 newcomer Filipe Albuquerque's placement with the Jota Zytek LMP2 team for this year's European Le Mans Series.

The Scot already had links with the British squad courtesy of his management role with Formula 3 graduate Harry Tincknell, who will also race with the team this year.

McNish said: "Being involved with driver development was timely with Filipe coming into the programme [in the third R18 e-tron quattro at Spa and Le Mans].

"Filipe needs experience of long-distance endurance racing with high-downforce car, so it made sense to put him at Jota to gain experience and for Marc [Gene, Audi's reserve driver who will race for Jota at Spa and Le Mans] to do some races to keep him up to speed."

McNish revealed that his presence at the Daytona 24 Hours USC round in January was as a result of his new duties.

"I know of lot of the people over there from my time in the US," he explained.

"That's why I went to Daytona and why I will be going to another USC race during the title."

McNish has yet to be given a title for his new role with Audi Sport.