The 20th anniversary of Colin McRae being crowned as Britain’s first ever World Rally Champion driver is being celebrated at this year’s Wales Rally GB 12-15 November.
It will be exactly two decades previously that on Wednesday 22 November the legendary Scot won Britain’s concluding round of the 1995 FIA World Rally Championship – then the Network Q RAC Rally – to make motor sport history. It’s an historic milestone that will be honoured with a number of special displays and parades at the 2015 event.
Sadly, Colin lost his life in a tragic helicopter accident in 2007, but his father Jimmy McRae – himself a five time British Rally Champion – will be part of the celebrations. Not only will Jimmy be providing the title-winning Subaru Impreza 555 from the family’s personal collection for public display at the Wales Rally GB Service Park in Deeside but he also will be rolling back the years by contesting the Network Q WRGB National Rally that shadows the main WRC event.
Back in 1995, Colin arrived in Chester – where that year’s event was based just over the border from Deeside – locked in a titanic two-way title battle with team-mate Carlos Sainz knowing whoever won the rally would take the World Championship. Sainz had the experience of winning two previous titles but, ultimately it was the swashbuckling Scot’s hunger and better knowledge of British stages which won the day by 36 seconds after four days of nail-biting competition at record speeds.
“That week down in Chester is still one of the highlights of our lives,” recalls father Jimmy from his home Lanarkshire. “It was such a proud moment for us all. What could possibly be better than Colin winning the World Championship on home soil?
“It’s now hard to imagine that 20 years has passed since that amazing day but it’s very thoughtful that Wales Rally GB will be marking Colin’s greatest moment later this year. I competed on last year’s National Rally and was absolutely amazed by the crowds – it really was like what I think of as the good old days. For all the obvious reasons I’m sure this year’s event will be even more special.”
He did finish runner-up in the championship in both of the two following seasons and in doing so helped Subaru to a hat-trick of manufacturers’ titles.
To this day he remains the sport’s youngest ever World Champion and his tally of 25 wins makes him Britain’s most successful rally driver.
Indeed his final Safari Rally victory in 2002 was the last by a British driver right up until the moment his protégé Kris Meeke won in Argentina earlier in the current campaign.
“Colin McRae will forever be a true hero and not just to rally fans here in Britain,” remarked Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Wales Rally GB.
“While obviously deeply saddened that Colin can’t be with us to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his crowning success, we are honoured that Jimmy will be with us to mark his son’s remarkable achievements.
Although Colin never claimed a second World Championship, his spectacular, flamboyant and totally committed driving style won the hearts of millions of fans all over the world.
“British rallying owes a tremendous debt to the whole McRae family and hopefully we can repay a little of that come Wales Rally GB in November.”
While the championship winning Subaru will be on show in the Service Park throughout the event, owners of ex-Colin McRae rally cars are being invited to join special parades at venues such as Chirk Castle and the Great Orme.
Official entries open tomorrow for competitors in this year’s Network Q WRGB National Rally 12-15 November, which runs alongside Wales Rally GB.
The three-day National Rally features 102 miles of special stages and shadows the full international WRC itinerary, offering single rather than double runs through each of the competitive sections including the RallyFest at Chirk Castle and the iconic Great Orme.
Last year’s national event was a great success, selling out in days and enjoying a reserve list for the first time, and organisers are predicting another oversubscribed entry from private entrants eager to compete on the WRC bill.
Petter Solberg will be the official ‘Rally Legend’ at this year’s concluding round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The 40-year-old Norwegian is one of only two drivers to have won Rally GB four times, in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
