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McNish praises Audi's safe design

Allan McNish paid tribute to the design team that created the Audi R18 TDI after he emerged unscathed from an enormous accident in the first hour of the Le Mans 24 Hours

The Scot had just taken the lead of the race when he rolled the #3 Audi at the Dunlop Chicane after making contact with Anthony Beltoise's Luxury Racing Ferrari. McNish destroyed his car against the barriers, but climbed from the car himself, and was later given the all-clear by doctors.

"Timo Bernhard was in the lead just ahead and he slid wide at the Dunlop Chicane and went on the Astroturf on the outside. So I kept to the inside, as he came back I overtook him and at the same went down to slide down the inside of the Ferrari which was just ahead of us," said McNish.

"The next thing I knew I was spinning towards the wall on the left hand side and so I immediately realised that I had tagged the left rear of my car with the right front of the Ferrari. After that I was along for the ride.

"Obviously it was a very big accident and I think everybody realises that.

"Straight away I climbed out of the car myself and after having a check with the doctors and also the hospital I have been given the all-clear. I have got to say a big thank you to the designers of Audi because they have produced a car that can have an impact that is enormous and then the driver pops the door and gets out perfectly well."

McNish added that he was gutted to have crashed out of a race he believes he and his team-mates Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello could have won.

"It's a big disappointment for us all in the team because one of the three Audis was out early on, for Tom and Dindo because the car we had was really good and I think it was the car to have to be honest, and that means it is a flat feeling right now," he said. "It means we are out of the race and a potential victory for Audi is gone."

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