Allan McNish will give the new Audi R18 TDI an important race début when the Scotsman competes in the second round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup at Spa in Belgium on Saturday, 7 May.
McNish lines-up with regular co-drivers Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Dindo Capello (Italy) in the new diesel-engined R18 Coupé for the 1,000km race around the stunning 4.35-mile Spa-Francorchamps track.
Spa takes on the added importance of being the first and only race for the R18 TDI before the Le Mans 24 Hours (11-12 June), meaning Audi Sport will use the near six-hour race in the Ardennes region as a full, three-car 'dress rehearsal' for the prestigious French race.
"It's essentially two races in one because I'll have one eye on the Spa race and claiming as many points towards the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup as possible while also looking at the bigger picture of the Le Mans 24 Hours," said McNish, who finished third in the corresponding Belgian race 12 months ago.
