Allan McNish began his preparations for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours by driving his diesel-powered Audi in an official test at the French circuit on Sunday.

McNish's co-driver Mike Rockenfeller clocked the third fastest time, a 3min 28.406secs, an average speed of over 145mph, around the slightly-shortened 8.47-mile track comprising of closed public roads - despite his inexperience in the Audi R10 TDI.

McNish, who bids to become the first Briton to win the annual endurance race in a diesel-engined sportscar, was competing in an official one-day test attended by all 55 teams that will contest the twice-around-the-clock marathon in France over 16-17 June.

"We completed what we'd set out to achieve. Unfortunately the day comprised a number of red flags, including one near the end which upset our plans a little, but overall we have a well balanced car and we're happy," commented McNish who won Le Mans in 1998.

"We spilt the workload between the three cars. I drove our car for most of the morning to conduct basic ground work. In the afternoon all three of us drove again to give everyone experience of the '07 R10 TDI at Le Mans which has changed slightly at Tetre Rouge and Arnage."

The Monaco-based Scotsman's co-drivers are as last year with regular American Le Mans Series co-pilot Dindo Capello (I) joined by Tom Kristensen (Den). Record seven-time Le Mans winner Kristensen is still recovering from an accident he suffered in the opening round of the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) on 22 April. Rockenfeller (D) deputized for the Dane today (SUN) in the McNish/Capello Audi R10 TDI and a final decision as to whether Kristensen competes at Le Mans will be taken during race week.

Frank Biela (D), Emanuele Pirro (I) and Marco Werner (D), who made Le Mans history by winning the race in their diesel-powered Audi last year, drive together again and recorded the second quickest time (3:28.277) courtesy of Biela. Meanwhile the third "factory" entered Audi R10 TDI handled by Mattias Ekström (Sw), Lucas Luhr (D), and Alexandre Prémat (F), was sixth fastest (Luhr, 3:30.613).

The Peugeot of Sébastien Bourdais (F) recorded the fastest time, 3min 26.707secs, in the eight-hour test staged in warm, sunny conditions. Last year's pole-position time set by Capello was a 3:30.466secs.

McNish flies to Scotland on Monday for two days before attending the TT motorcycle races on the Isle of Man until Friday evening. Allan will spend a day at his Monaco home before returning to Le Mans on Sunday evening to commence his final countdown for the 75th Le Mans 24 Hours.