Allan McNish named Audi racing director after Jonathan Wheatley departure

Former Formula 1 driver Allan McNish has been named racing director of the Audi F1 team.

The move follows the departure of Jonathan Wheatley as team principal last month.

McNish, 56, is a long-time Audi employee who has had a role advising the company’s board for many years. The Scot has been involved in the German company’s F1 project since its inception.

He will start in his new role at the next race, the Miami Grand Prix on 1-3 May. His responsibilities will include oversight of sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy and garage operations, as well as on-track media and partner activities, a statement said.

McNish is a three-time winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours, once with Audi’s sister brand Porsche and twice with Audi, and he was the 2013 world endurance champion.

He raced in F1 for Toyota in 2002, and was team principal of Audi’s Formula E team. He retains his role as the head of the company’s young driver programme.