Allan was with the Tom Walkinshaw Racing team almost from its inception as the teams Engine Designer and Engine Division Manager.
He first visited Browns Lane with Walkinshaw in late 1981 to put forward a proposal for Jaguar to return to racing via the newly introduced Group A regulations in Europe using Jaguar’s XJS.
After many successes and winning the famed Spa 24 hour race in 1984 with the XJS, he was then tasked with producing a high performance, fuel efficient engine to take Jaguar back into Sports Car racing.
The successful outcome came by using Jaguar's V12 engine, and it heralded a much anticipated return to Le Mans and America’s Daytona, and winning in both 1988 and 1990, as well as two World Championships in 1987 and 1988.
Allan has written two books on TWR and Jaguars successes. TWR & Jaguar's XJS, and TWR & Jaguar's V12 Prototype Sports Cars are both indepth, and informative insights into a unique world.
Tim Nevinson gives an interesting introduction to Allan’s books along with comments from Martin Brundle, Jan Lammers, Win Percy, John Watson and former TWR America manager Tony Dowe. The books are currently available online here.
Now it's your turn!
Allan is ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have about his time with TWR.
Whether you want to know more about how he went about his design work, or what life in the pit lane was really like, now's your chance. Just submit your question via email to Andy Webber by clicking here, or emailing [email protected].
All of the questions will then be gathered, and the answers revealed in a forthcoming Friday Spotlight. Not a subscriber yet? just click on the link below.
For more inspiration, why not also take a look at the short video below where Allan was interviewed by our very own TV Supremo, Wayne Scott.