McNish joins Audi DTM squad.

Despite having seen his sportscar seat with Team Veloqx evaporate, Allan McNish will continue to race for Audi next year - but as part of the defending DTM champion's 'superstar' squad in Germany.

The Monaco-based Scotsman adds to an all-star cast expected to contest the 2005 DTM series, joining already established ex-F1 names Jean Alesi and Heinz-Harald Frentzen, as well as former world champion Mika H?kkinen, who recently signed a deal with Audi rival Mercedes. McNish will drive a new generation Audi A4 alongside newly-crowned 2004 champion Mattias Ekstr?m, former sportscar team-mate Kristensen and rising star Martin Tomczyk. Audi will also field Christian Abt, and fellow new signings Rinaldo Capello, Pierre Kaffer and Frank Stippler in the current 2004-spec A4 model.

"The DTM has got a very high pedigree of drivers, some from Formula One like Mika, plus some unfamiliar faces for me, like Britain's Gary Paffett, but no matter anyone's background, there is not one person racing who wants to finish second," McNish said of his latest challenge, "The DTM will be new territory for me but, having visited the championship finale this year, I can confirm that the racing is very fast and furious. I will give 100 per cent of course but, being a DTM 'new boy', I am not going to make any predictions at this stage."

McNish has never previously raced a modern-era saloon or touring car, but does not see this as a handicap in his switch to the DTM. Six-times Le Mans 24 Hours race winner Kristensen contested the DTM for the first time this season, scoring one win and taking fourth place in the final championship standings.

"It is not going to be easy for me, and I am going to have to learn the tricks of the trade, but I watched Tom's progress this year as he was coming from a similar background, and he was competitive.

"I am really excited about this programme and can't wait to start. I still get the same feeling now as when I started karting almost 25 years ago and, combining that passion with hard work and effort from myself and the team, I know we can be successful."

The Scot, who turns 35 at the end of next month, won the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours with Porsche, establishing himself as a sportscar star, but only returned to Audi this year after three years in Formula One. Having previously won the American Le Mans Series title with the German manufacturer, McNish proved an instant hit in the venerable R8, taking three victories for Team Veloqx and Audi UK, and finishing second in the inaugural Le Mans Endurance Series.

"I enjoy working with Audi, and their clear and decisive mentality suits me," he explained, "When I came back from F1, I wanted to return to Le Mans and Audi after driving for them in 2000. There were many reasons, but the two most important ones were that they knew how to win and we work well together."