McNish, Capello Hope to End Title Chase at Mosport

McNish, Capello Hope to End Title Chase at Mosport

Posted: August 28th, 2006 in American Le Mans
Author: American Le Mans Series
Photo By: Joe Martin

It has been awhile for Allan McNish. It has been a dream for Dindo Capello. Both are on the verge of becoming American Le Mans Series champions – McNish for the second time while Capello can claim his first. That puts a little more importance on this weekend’s Mobil 1 presents Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of Mosport.

Heading into the eighth round of the 2006 schedule, McNish and Capello lead the LMP1 championship by 42 points over Dyson Racing’s Butch Leitzinger and James Weaver. Should they win for the sixth time this season, the Audi Sport North America duo could slam the door on the championship chase. As has been the case the last three rounds of the Series, the two will pilot a diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI, which is unbeaten since debuting at Sebring.“It was difficult to say how things would be as it was such a big project with an all new concept,” said McNish, the 2000 prototype champion. “So from that point of view, the general reliability and performance has lived up to the usual Audi standard.”With a victory and a third-place finish by Weaver and Leitzinger in the No. 16 Dyson Lola, McNish and Capello would lead the standings by 49 points, the amount available for winning both Petit Le Mans and the season-ending Monterey Sports Car Championships. According to IMSA rules, the number of wins by drivers with the same amount of points decides the championship.Additionally, the McNish/Capello R10 TDI can finish second and clinch if Leitzinger/Weaver finish fifth. And if they aren’t classified, all the No. 2 Audi has to do is complete 70 percent of the total number of race laps. The same goes for the chassis and engine manufacturers crown.“This year with the R10 TDI, we have a great chance at a good result,” said Capello, championship runner-up in 2000 and 2002. “We all feel we are part of a great and new project. If it is successful, we can write many history pages in motorsport. We really are making a difference.” The team title picture looks even better for Audi. Dyson Racing must have one of its cars finish ahead of one of the R10s to keep the Audi factory squad from clinching the team title. It would mark a tremendous accomplishment for both TDI Power and Audi, which has seen its teams take the last six P1 championships.“From an Audi point of view, the USA is an important market,” McNish said. “I think (Audi) liked the idea of taking the diesel to the States, a country not used to high performance diesels – never mind one that can beat gasoline power.”Â

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