Last year, Audi broke new ground with the first diesel-powered winner, driven by Frank Biela, Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro, and McNish says he rates their chances of more success.
In the power systems business that manufactures and sells a variety of engines and diesel-electric locomotives, sales were driven by petroleum and rail applications.
Even experienced rail-riders find it difficult to get aboard modern trains driven by diesel engines which gather speed more rapidly than the steam trains of the old days.