McNish hails Le Mans Series title

McNish (left) and Capello celebrate their Petit Le Mans win

Allan McNish claimed a third American Le Mans Series title after winning the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

The Scot and Audi co-driver Dindo Capello were just 0.923seconds ahead of the LM P2 Porsche of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Patrick Long.

It was Audi's eighth-straight Petit Le Mans race win, sealing a clean sweep in the top sportscar races of Le Mans, Sebring and Petit Le Mans this year.

"It's a perfect way to win the drivers' title again," said 37-year-old McNish.

McNish has now won the endurance sportscar series titles in 2000, 2006 and 2007 - the same years he has triumphed in the prestigious annual 1,000-mile race.

"I'm very, very proud of this race victory - considering the fight we faced and obstacles that were put in front of us." said McNish.

"Petit Le Mans is a long event, not only for a car and drivers but the entire team and everyone played a major part in this victory."

However, the victory did not come without problems for McNish and Italian driver Capello.

"I couldn't avoid hitting a spinning backmarker and then had a deflating rear tyre, which necessitated two pit-stops," McNish added.

"Dindo and I opened up a one-lap lead after seven hours, although a full course caution brought the Porsche back into contention. But then that's endurance racing.

"However, Audi are back on the very top of the rostrum - and there is no better way for Dindo and I to have won a second consecutive title, and our third in total."