Audi sportscar ace Allan McNish has taken on the most important role in Scottish motorsport by succeeding triple Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart as President of the Scottish Motor Racing Club (SMRC).

The 37-year-old from Dumfries, arguably the fastest and best current sportscar driver in the world, collected his third American Le Mans Series title driving for Audi this year – his last two titles coming courtesy of pioneering Audi turbo diesel technology.


\"I\'m very honoured to take over from Sir Jackie who has held the position for the past 40 years,\" commented McNish at the SMRC\'s annual Awards Dinner in Edinburgh (1 Dec).

\"I still see myself very much as a racing driver and not necessarily someone people would look at as being president of such a famous and influential club.

To follow the past two former presidents ­ Sir Jackie and double F1 world champ Jim Clark ­ is rather humbling. I have always worn the Scottish flag on my overalls and the tartan on my helmet which means I\'m proud to be Scottish.

There comes a time when you have to put a little back in to a sport which you have had a tremendous amount out of. I think this is the appropriate time for me to actually start to do that.

I\'m not about to stop racing, far from it. It is in fact the start of another step I can take in motorsport to help raise the profile of motorsport in Scotland.

It\'s also important I raise the success of Scottish motorsport around the world and, most importantly, help guide the development paths of Scotland\'s younger generation of drivers just as Sir Jackie did with me in my early years.\"

Triple Formula One World Champion Stewart is full of praise for his successor.

\"Allan has achieved an enormous amount in his motor racing career and he is still delivering results and championships with every passing season,\"confirmed Sir Jackie. \"His Scottish tongue never leaves anyone in any doubt about where he comes from and the manner in which he has, and continues to conduct himself, is exemplary.

\"The presidency of the SMRC is a position which has always given me great pride and allowed me to represent Scotland in the motorsport world. The club and its members should be very proud to have Allan as its new president.

\"He is at an age which allows him to carry that honour with pride and achievement. I am not only very pleased, but very happy to be able to hand the baton over to Allan with such confidence.\"