38 replies to this topic

[Barry Lake]

Almost on the eve of his belated first start in F1, can anyone tell me where Allan McNish's career went wrong.

I don't have a collection of Autosport to check back on it, but my memory tells me McNish was top man in F3 at a time when that was almost a key to the door of F1. Unlike other F3 winners of the era, McNish didn't turn up in F1.

What happened?

Next week I hope to get the opportunity to ask the man himself, but a little bit of insight in advance wouldn't go astray.

[Darren Galpin]

The name perhaps???? He was test driver for Benetton and McLaren but never got a race seat. It was his pace in sportscars that got him a Toyota sportscar drive, and that got him the F1 drive.

[FEV]

His awful crash at Donington in F3000 (a marshall was killed and Allan was lucky to survive) must have played a role. Even if he won a race shortly after, he never seemed the same man after that and was outpaced by Comas. Then DAMS went down and down with him in 1991.

[Haddock]

Looking through my Autosport back issues from the time, McNish actually narrowly lost the British F3 championship to David Brabham, who hardly set the world alight in F1 himself.

He was then outpaced by Comas in F3000 at DAMS in 1990, and Comas, like Brabham never really impressed in F1. After that, he was simply driving the wrong car fro the wrong team for too long in F3000....he actually hung about in F3000 for quite a number of years before going into sportscars.

A good journeyman, but as I suspect his performance this season will show, not really a lost talent or anything.

[Geza Sury]

McNish: I don't think there was any one thing that went wrong; there were a couple of things that happened at a similar time that was a bit unfortunate. In 1990 I won two races in F3000 and I finished fourth in the Championship and everything really looked quite good. I led three or four other races and had some reliability problems and my F1 testing with McLaren had been going well. But in 1991 the Lola chassis that we used was a bit of a dog. So anyone using a Lola was never anywhere near to winning a race, so I struggled from that point of view.

That's exactly the point. McNish made his F3000 debut at the last round of the championship (Dijon) replacing F1-bound J.J. Lehto at Pacific. His team mate was non other than Eddie Irvine. McNish qualified his Reynard in 13th place and finished 8th, a lap behind winner Erik Comas. (Irvine was fourth) So this wasn't an inpressive debut. Next year he went to DAMS together with Marlboro, and after the disastrous Donington race (see above) he displayed great talent at the second round at Silverstone. He had outqualified his highly-rated team-mate Comas, and started from pole. Inspite of this, it was Damon Hill (another familiar name, eh?) who led, but then his car suffered electronic problems and he retired. McNish took the lead and eventually scored an impressive win. He wasn't bad at all during that year, but Comas was even better. And then came 1991. That year the Lola chassis was totally outclassed by the Reynards, McNish even failed to qualify for the season-opener race at Vallelunga! (He had been almost the slowest of drivers) I think that's where his carrier went wrong.

[LB]

I am fairly sure that he suffered some problems with a series illness - Not entirely sure of the details on that one though.

[Paul Hartshorne]

IMHO, Allan certainly deserves his F1 chance.

I well remember the first time I saw him race, in an FF1600 event at Donington in 1987. He arrived late from Scotland and missed qualifying, but was allowed to start the race from last on the grid. He won!

I don't believe that the awful accident at Donington in 1990 affected him that much, although it must have had some impact. The family of the fatally injured spectator sent a letter to Allan advising him to keep up his career and not to think of retiring.

The Lola debacle the following season was bad enough, but after that Allan contracted a serious viral infection which handicapped his racing for the next couple of seasons, and after losing his Marlboro sponsorship, financing his career became a struggle.

But, in this case at least, talent has finally won out. Now, whatever happened to Tom Kristensen?

Cheers, Paul

[Jdcasas]

OK, I know who he is and all, but I dont know that much about him.... is he actually any good? Is he in f1 for long, or will he just be in f1 for a year and then leave? He doesnt look fast , and I believe Salo will leave him in the shade.

Maybe someone can post his resumé here.... I have an open mind.

[Ross Stonefeld]

He's quick, but more importantly is extremely polished.


Did the usual junior stuff. Him and Hakkinen split the European/British Formula Opel championships between them, and he narrowly lost the Brit F3 title to Brabham. Went to F3000 and a combination of a dog of a car and an accident that killed a marshall stalled his momentum. Tested for numerous F1 teams then went to sportscars. Has been a factory Toyota, Audi, and Porsche driver. The years he spent in sportscars will have taught him a lot. Try making a prototype last for 24 hours, and a 90 minute sprint should be a cakewalk. David Brabham and Stefan Johansson have commented recently they wish they'd done sportscars before F1, it makes you that complete as a driver

[Scudetto]

One of the F1 teams he tested for was McLaren....in 1990(!).

[Jdcasas]

seems like an old guy then... age?

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by Jdcasas
seems like an old guy then... age?

Currently 32. Here's an article on McNish from the February 2002 issue of F1 Racing. That should answer most of your questions.

[Mrv]

Never heard of him.

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by Mrv
Never heard of him.

Nor are you likely to after 2002.

[BuonoBruttoCattivo]

I read in my Porsche in Motorsports book that McNish's drive in the GT1-98 in 1998 at Mans was nothing short of incredible. That drive would go down in history as one of Le Man's best. Since reading that my interest increased a little about him.

[Toyoter]

He's probably the best sports car driver alive, as well as one of the most intelligent and well spoken racers I have ever seen. How anyone could ever root against a guy like McNish I'll never know, especially after all he's been through to make it where he is.

[Dudley]

Never heard of him.

You know, there's motorsport outside F1.

[Rene]

Originally posted by Mrv
Never heard of him.

Thats a shocker....should have seen him drive at LeMans...truely magnificant!!

[vtpachyderm]

If you look at the following thread "Toyota at Paul Ricard", there is a link to a video of the toyota test.

Listen to him describe what he expects out of the season, and you'll understand what Ross says about him being extremely polished and well spoken.

I had heard of him in sportscars, but by watching that video, my impression of him seems like he's just the type of driver a new team would want : no ego, and only interested in whats best for the team.

[Ross Stonefeld]

or as david_martin so interestingly pointed out, he was able to do a fluent interview for French TV during Le Mans one year

[Scudetto]

Originally posted by vtpachyderm
If you look at the following thread "Toyota at Paul Ricard", there is a link to a video of the toyota test.

Listen to him describe what he expects out of the season, and you'll understand what Ross says about him being extremely polished and well spoken.

I had heard of him in sportscars, but by watching that video, my impression of him seems like he's just the type of driver a new team would want : no ego, and only interested in whats best for the team.

Well, you would certainly HOPE he'd be a polished guy -- he's nearly twice the age of some of F1's recent newbies.

Edit: Before you guys flame me over this statment - that means you, Toyoter - I'm all for McNish's selection by Toyota. I think its good that a manufacturer has confidence in a veteran rather than some kid right out of the blocks that hasn't even bought his first shaving kit yet.

Allan's got my best wishes.

[Pets22]

I'm looking forward to AM next week - i hope he'll do well he's paid his dues for sure.

[AlesiGOD]

Originally posted by Toyoter
He's probably the best sports car driver alive, as well as one of the most intelligent and well spoken racers I have ever seen. How anyone could ever root against a guy like McNish I'll never know, especially after all he's been through to make it where he is.

I would say that Kristensen is the best sportscardriver, but I have watched McNish at Le Mans a few times, and he was/is almost as good. I am going to root for as well...

[tony]

seems like an old guy then... age?

Actually he's 3 years younger than Mika Salo....I didn't realize this until I looked at their bios on Atlasf1. I think McNish will do quite well.

[The Kanisteri]

Biography and stuff there:
http://www.allanmcni.../index_site.cfm

[fines]

I'd also say his debut season in F3000 was highly impressive, lest we forget Comas was a proven winner in the category and they were driving for a FRENCH team! But then the dreadful T91/50... (dreadful that is, if we disregard Japan and Bridgestone!)

[goGoGene]

Kristensen is good, but in a single race a bit of luck is involved, during a whole ALMS season McNish was consistently better than Kristensen. McNish at le Mans in '98 is a famously good drive.

ggg

[AlesiGOD]

I don't agree, Kristensen has been at Le Mans 5 times, won three and led 4 of them(in 99 his car was leading by 5 laps over the sistercar, which won after a stuck accelerator caused Lehto to crash..).

[Ross Stonefeld]

Kristensen is faster, but for some reason I just feel Alan is more polished. I dunno, I just think of Tom K wrecking at Road Atlanta, spinning at Sears point, destroying a kart on his out lap in Birmingham...

[goGoGene]

Their both really good sports car drivers, I think that's the real point, I like Brabham as well.

ggg

[Barry Lake]

Wow! And all that in just a few hourts. I certainly asked the right group of people.

Interestingn to see the mention of Tom Kristensen. I have met people (drivers, engineers etc) whose opinion I respect greatly, who rate Kristensen among (potentially) the very best.

Luck, timing, momentum, image... (financial backing, connections...)

Let's not forget the one factor that often makes the difference - perseverance.

[goalposthead]

I'd love to see McNish on the podium; his post-race press interview would be a joyous relief from the listening to the usual sour-faced numbskull ego-bots.

Yes, perseverance. The guy has worked hard, paid his dues, and refused to whine. He deserves his seat and I hope he can stick around for a few years and have some fun.

[MacFan]

Having followed Allan's career since karts, I don't think it was the F3000 crash or being generally outpaced by Comas that stalled his career. Comas had been in Allan's situation at DAMS the previous year - generally outpaced by Eric Bernard, who had an extra year's experience of F3000. It was expected that Allan would be the DAMS team leader and a title contender in his second year.

The Lola T91/50 was obviously a piece of crap compared to the Reynard, but Allan didn't respond very well to its shortcomings - I think it was the first truly bad racing car he had driven, a bit like Button last year. His team mate, Laurent Aiello, dragged some impressive qualifying times from the reluctant car, including pole at one round (Spa IIRC). That raised some question marks about Allan's ultimate ability.

At the same time, F1 testing was not going well. With hindsight, Allan should have accepted the Williams test drive he was offered, which ultimately went to Damon Hill. At the time, it would have meant leaving the Marlboro staircase he had been with since 1988, which brought him all the way to McLaren, but only as a test driver. When Andretti came to do a test for McLaren in 1992, Allan was unable to outpace him. Andretti got the race drive, and Allan was dumped from the team. I remember thinking at the time that McLaren were unlikely to give him a race seat, as I couldn't remember McLaren giving anybody their F1 racing debut under Ron Dennis (even Senna had to prove himself in Toleman and Lotus first!)

Subsequently he tested for Benetton, becoming the most experienced F1 driver never to race. He then suffered the debilitating virus that took him completely off the radar of the F1 teams.

[MacFan]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
or as david_martin so interestingly pointed out, he was able to do a fluent interview for French TV during Le Mans one year

In the two years he raced for DAMS, Allan lived in France to be close to the team, so it's not surprising he picked up a word or two of French. I remember seeing an interview with him, in which he describes trying to teach his engineers how to speak Scottish. Unsurprisingly, this didn't work very well, and Allan had to learn French.

[The Kanisteri]

Originally posted by goalposthead
The guy has worked hard, paid his dues, and refused to whine. He deserves his seat and I hope he can stick around for a few years and have some fun.

Great post! Must agree with 100%.

[andy_bee]

I worked for a team (3001- ex Onyx) that ran McNish (with Heidki Noda and Mark Sckaife -spl?) in F3000 in 1993. Previously he has raced for DAMS, had the infection and the accident. 93 was tough as he lost most (not quite all) the Marlboro sponsorship and one of the Philip Morris Ladder of talent "judges", Mike Earle took him on using a Reynard 93. Problem was there was no money in the pot, and they struggled throughtout the year. Noda had lots of money from Tenoras and was absouletly nowhere. Anyway, come last race of the season and Squish had to be replaced by Sckaife (I know its spelt wrong) with Winfield backing who also failed to impress. That was it for a while. McNish did appear at PSR in F3000 after that, but cant remember really what happened.

One problem that McNish and I suspect some other racers have had was that Marlboro money was pouring in from the day he raced in Vauxhall Lotus, team mate to Hakkinen. He never had to look for sponsorship really, so when the Marlboro talent thing died, drivers like McNish really struggled as they had effectively had an easy life.

He then had a chance to get a test with an Indy Team (cant remember if it was PacWest or Team Green) but it never came off.

I then went to work for McLaren and McNish had serious respect there for his testing capabilities. One of the few drivers that Senna actually took some notice of in terms of feedback.

He's an excellent little (he is really small and compact!) driver who has worked bloody hard to get to where he is and hopefully will make it in F1. I have no doubt providing its a fair equipment thing with Salo

The guy is bloody nice as well. Only met him a few times and he appears very geniune and honest. Lots of people in the sport have the upmost respect for him

[LittleChris]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by andy_bee
[B]
He then had a chance to get a test with an Indy Team (cant remember if it was PacWest or Team Green) but it never came off.

I seem to remember it was Pac West and he was quickest during the test but lost out because Mark Blundell brought more money for the drive ?!? Anyone else confirm ?

[Punisher6]

Go McNish

I hope he wipes the floor with Salo!

[andy_bee]

B]

I seem to remember it was Pac West and he was quickest during the test but lost out because Mark Blundell brought more money for the drive ?!? Anyone else confirm ? [/B]

If i remember it correctly, and I may be wrong, McNish and Pac West couldnt agree on payment for flights etc and as far as I was aware he never had a test. Not his best decision, but I suppose you look where Billy Blundell ended up, one win I think and look where McNish ended up and its seems to have worked itself out