Audi Announcement?

[Dancin]

What's the "important news" coming out of Audi today?

[RobGT81]

McNish retiring?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/111886

[Red Firecracker]

A real shame, but I think he has done what all racing drivers should strive to do, go out at the top and on his own terms. Good for him.

[fatboy69]

A shame to see him retire but, as already said, he has finally achieved his aim - World Champion.

Cant be bettered can it so it is probably the right time for him to retire.

[jamiebae]

I've had the pleasure of working with Allan in the past while he was an Audi driver, and can honestly say there isn't a better ambassador for a manufacturer out there. Aside from the fact he's a stupendously fast sportscar driver if I could pick any driver in the world to put in charge of my guests and customers it would be him - nothing is ever too much trouble and he couldn't be more friendly and approachable. For him to go at the top of his game takes a lot of courage, and leaves a huge hole in the Audi team which they will struggle to fill.

Le Mans just won't be the same without him being there to cheer on from the banking by the Dunlop Bridge on lap 1!

[Henry Fiddleton]

Good on him.

A sucessful career, his limbs are all in tact and he can spend proper time with the family.

Not bad when you are only 44 years old.

[Sir_Dave]

My guess is that VAG group decided that Porsche are winning Le Mans year (all that marketing will be wasted if they fail to do it in their comeback year), so Audi told McNish that he'd have to let Webber win, multi21 style ... McNish told them to bugger off

Hence retirement/resignation?

[Red Firecracker]

Sir_Dave said:

My guess is that VAG group decided that Porsche are winning Le Mans year (all that marketing will be wasted if they fail to do it in their comeback year), so Audi told McNish that he'd have to let Webber win, multi21 style ... McNish told them to bugger off

Hence retirement/resignation?

I'm guessing tongue in cheek, but no. Already well documented that both teams are there to race without intrusion from the respective boards. Both want to win and most importantly, both desperately want to beat the other on fair terms.

[Prancing Hippo]

Such a shame about McNish, as such an awesome driver and come across fantastically in interviews. I am sure he will be missed by many. A huge thanks to him though for the spectacle he has given throughout his career, and inspring me to get into enduro myself. Sadly I will never get any where near his level!!