McNish awarded prestigious Seagrave Trophy

Allan McNish has been awarded the Seagrave Trophy for outstanding achievement in motorsport, the second time he has received the accolade.

Honoured at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, McNish - who announced his retirement from motorsport competition at the end of 2013 - was given the trophy in acknowledgement of winning the iconic Tourist Trophy, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Endurance Championship in the same year.

"I am extremely honoured to receive this prestigious trophy again," commented Allan. "I have tried to tick all the boxes in my racing career, and excel in every kind of racing I have taken part in.

"I'd also like to accept it on behalf of all those who have helped me achieve success in my career, both those in the teams I have raced with, and especially my family.

"Jackie Stewart told me that this was probably one of the most prestigious trophies I could win in my career, and to win it twice is just incredible."

McNish contested 89 races since making his Audi sportscar debut in 2000 scoring 66 top-three "podiums" - including 29 outright race wins - for "factory" or "customer" Audi teams that also netted three American Le Mans Series titles.

Heralded as the world's greatest sportscar driver in recent years, McNish, who also competed in a season of F1 with Toyota - won the Le Mans 24 Hour races in 1998, 2008 and last year, scoring a further six top-three "podiums" in his 14 attempts in the legendary French "marathon."

"I was moved seeing some of the previous [Segrave] winners today and noting their achievements."
Added Tom Purves, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. "Two of the qualities we award the Segrave Trophy for are outstanding skill and courage.

"Allan certainly showed his skill and natural talent from his earliest days in a racing car. He has also proved himself in one of the toughest areas of motorsport; 24-hour endurance racing.

"In awarding him this trophy again, the Club is acknowledging those essential qualities as much as the considerable achievement of winning the Tourist Trophy, Le Mans and the [World] Championship in the same season. As he retires, we honour one of this country's great racing drivers."

The Segrave Trophy is named after British pilot and pre-war racing driver Sir Henry Segrave who pushed himself and his machines to the very limit in the pursuit of ultimate speed. He was the first man to hold both land and water speed records, though the latter would cost him his life in 1930. With such drive and determination in mind, the trophy is awarded for 'outstanding skill, courage and initiative on land, water and in air - the Spirit of Adventure'.

Previous holders of the trophy include Amy Johnson (1932), Donald Campbell (1958), Sir Jackie Stewart (1973) and Carl Fogarty (1994).