Purr's blog: "RIP Colin McRae :("

Rally champion Colin McRae dies with son in helicopter crash Tom Gordon THE former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm. Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult - said by locals to be a school friend of McRae - and another child. McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said. Strathclyde police said in a statement: "Four people were onboard the helicopter," adding "The bodies were found within the helicopter which is owned by Mr Colin McRae of Jerviswood House, Lanark. It is believed he was onboard the helicopter." McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games. Related Links * A legend of the road * The people’s champion The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's 16th-century home, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with southwesterly winds gusting to 30 knots and good visibility. Officers with dogs and torches continued to comb the woodland near the crash into the night. McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart, who flew with him several times, described him as a "very good, very measured pilot". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. "As a sportsman he was a true hero. As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving. "It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver." Additional reporting: Paul Lamarra

The people’s champion Nat Daniels He wasn’t just a champion, he was a people’s hero. In the world of motorsport, Colin McRae was an icon, a source of inspiration, often frustration, but always outlandish entertainment. At a time when Britain has no rally driver at the forefront of the sport, the death of McRae strikes a savage blow at the heart of consciousness for supporters throughout the land. It seems like only yesterday that McRae, the Scotsman, was jousting with Richard Burns, the Englishman, for the sport’s ultimate prize. McRae, typically, went off the road in the deciding Rally GB and Burns subsequently cruised to his one and only world championship triumph. But that was McRae, and that was Burns. Their contrasting styles rendered their rivalry all the more compelling. But soon Burns was taken ill and was unable to recover. Now McRae, too, has gone. Burns will always be revered as the consummate professional, an outstanding driver who reached the pinnacle of his sport. His diligence, consistency and strategy ultimately paid dividends. But that was never McRae’s style. He was the charger, the risk taker. How sad that he should have survived numerous skirmishes and one horrendous crash in Corsica, in 2000, only to perish in a helicopter. Speed and competition were in McRae’s genes. His father, Jimmy, was five-times British rally champion. Just like his father, the young Colin was fascinated by all things fast and mechanical. The moment Jimmy turned his back, Colin would be on one of his motorbikes, but then Jimmy always knew. Colin first held the wheel of a motorcar when he sat on his grandfather’s lap and drove into an imaginary distance but once he was on two wheels, for real, there would be no holding him back. He moved to cars and again, his momentum was unstoppable. With friends, he would drive a Mini around the old mineshafts at Riggside near the family home in Lanark. But soon he turned to competition, but this time at the wheel of an Avenger as he entered his first rally, the Cames Stages. The car was borrowed from a friend but the kick convinced him this was his calling. Even though he went off and got stuck in a peat bog, that day, September 14, 1985, confirmed Colin McRae would be a rally driver. But how good? His father was convinced his son would go on to be better than he was. McRae bought a Sunbeam for £850 and embarked on his career proper. He cut his teeth in the Scottish and British series and made his breakthrough with three wins in the second half of 1988. In 1989, he made his world championship debut in a Ford Sierra. Later that year, he encountered his first RAC rally. He didn’t finish the event and there were to be many more DNFs in his career, but then that was McRae. And that was why he built up such an enormous and adoring fan club on both sides of the border and eventually around the world. Derek Ringer became his regular co-driver and together they went all the way to the world title, but not without a few bumps and bruises along the way. The big breakthrough came in 1991 when he was signed up by Prodrive and the Subaru rally team. He would have a full British championship drive and the occasional world championship opportunity – and his first salary, £10,000. He became the youngest British champion that year. He defended the title in 1992 and the following year had his first full world championship programme. He achieved his maiden win in New Zealand and then his first in the RAC. No British driver had won his home event since Roger Clark in 1976. McRae went on to win a further two home events but the highlight of his career came in 1995 in a tense and often fractious duel with his Subaru teammate, Spain’s Carlos Sainz. McRae clinched the crown on home ground. He came close again and never closer than in 2001, driving for Ford and partnered by Nicky Grist. But then, the old McRae impulse to push and go for the spectacular undid him and Burns became champion. McRae was always irritated by the “McCrash” tag, and his fans would never have wanted him any other way. Outside the car, he was often accused of being moody and dour but then, take him away from the glare of the spotlight into his own environment with family and friends, and he was a different person. He also had a sharp sense of humour. He enjoyed winding up Burns, phoning him up when he had one or two beers, and telling him he knew the Englishman loved him really. McRae said recently: “We had a strong rivalry but there was a lot of respect. My belief was that you started with the speed and found your limit. With experience, you can use that natural ability more effectively.” McRae finished his career with Citroen and never quite gave up his hope of returning to the top flight. At the age of 39, he had still had an insatiable appetite for speed and challenge. He was preparing for another attempt at the Dakkar Rally in the New Year. His absence from that event will be a poignant reminder of what sport has lost.

A legend of the road Richard Rae Colin McRae, Britain’s first world rally champion who died in a helicopter crash yesterday, will be remembered as one of the most spectacular drivers this country has produced. The appalling news of McRae’s death comes less than two years after the death of Richard Burns, Britain’s second world rally champion and one of McRae’s great rivals, after a long battle against cancer. The 40-year-old McRae won the World Rally Championship in 1995, was runner-up in 1996, 1997, and 2001, and third in 1998. It was in many ways ironic that McRae’s driving style, the reason for his immense and enduring popularity with motorsport lovers the world over, appeared to be so at odds with his personality. Mainly, of course, because it wasn’t – the truth was that for all he rather enjoyed playing up the apparent contrast between his flamboyance in a car and a buttoned-up, almost taciturn public persona, once away from the cameras and microphone, McRae was a natural risk-taker, and as such, an extrovert in attitude to life in every respect. The son of a famous rallying father, McRae reckoned he first sat behind a wheel at the age of two, although his first experience of serious competition was on motorbikes, winning a number of junior and intermediate trials competitions. He made his rallying debut in 1985, combining his driving with working in the family heating and plumbing business, but his natural speed, astonishing car control and readiness to drive on the edge ensured he quickly began to make a name for himself amongst regular rally-goers. Related Links * A legend of the road * The people’s champion His first World Rally Championship drive came in Sweden, home to so many great racers, in 1987, where despite several off-road excursions he finished 36th overall and third in class. His first victory came closer to home, in the Tweedies Rally in 1988, when he was co-driven by childhood sweetheart and wife to be, Alison Hamilton. While he continued to impress as a privateer, McRae’s biggest break came when he teamed up with David Richards, the 1981 World Champion co-driver and already a man beginning to make his way in the business of motorsport. It was Richards who persuaded Subaru that building a car capable of winning the World Rally Championship could transform a marque previously associated with gentleman farmers into an edgy best seller, and in McRae, he had the driver to win the title. That the dream could become reality first became genuinely apparent in Sweden, in 1992, when, but for a puncture on the final day, the odds are McRae would have won the rally in the Nordic heartland. In finishing second however, he finished ahead of Stig Blomqvist and Markku Alen. His first WRC win came the following year, in New Zealand, and though there was always the chance of a crash, it was rapidly becoming clear that no driver was as exciting, and more to the point, as quick, as McRae at his best. In 1995 he became Britain’s first World Rally Champion, sealing his victory in typical style with a final round win in his home event, beating teammate and double world champion Carlos Sainz in front of hundreds of thousands of ecstatic British motorsport fans. To finish runner-up in the next two years was to some a disappointment, and given he won more WRC events than any other driver in 1997, to McRae himself. All the more so because he could argue that the failure to secure the championships were down to mechanical and technical issues, rather than his own driving. In 1999 he switched to Ford, but consistent success continued to elude him, though his win in the Safari Rally of 2002, his 25th in the WRC, confirmed his place as one of the most successful drivers in the history of the sport. A short-lived switch to Citroen followed, but after an enforced sabbatical in 2004 his appearance in a Skoda Fabia ensured another huge turnout for the 2005 Wales Rally. A seventh placed finish showed he had lost none of his ability. By now the longevity of his fame as a driver had been secured, and for reasons other pure ability. For all that he always claimed not to be much of a fan of computers, in 1998 he leant his name to a rallying game which rapidly became one of the best sellers, and in various formats, continues to be to this day. Already a wealthy man, in 1995 he became an official resident of Monaco, partly on the advice of his friend David Coulthard, but soon moved back to Scotland to ensure his young family grew up near his old home. McRae was once asked why Scotland produced so many great drivers. He replied: “Maybe there’s something in the water! Seriously, though, I don’t think there’s any real reason for it, it’s not as if there’s an abundance of fantastic tracks for Scots to race on. I think its a reflection of the fact that the Scots are, by and large, a very determined group of people. Determination is a quality that motorsport demands in abundance, so maybe that serves us well and drives us on.” McRae was determined, certainly, but he was also immensely naturally talented. In that respect, he may be bracketed with the driver who most regard as the greatest of them all, his fellow Scot, Jim Clark. He, too, died far too soon. Rally Champ - The Scotsman was the the son of fi ve-time British rally champion, Jimmy - He rode motorbikes as a teenager and took part in his fi rst rally in 1985 - McRae made his debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Sweden in 1987, fi nishing 36th overall - He was the Scottish rally champion in 1988 and the British champion in 1991 and 1992 - He won his fi rst WRC race in 1993 - In 1995 he became Britain’s fi rst world rally champion - He was made an MBE in 1996 for services to motor sport. He won 25 WRC rallies, with 42 podium fi nishes

Rally ace Colin McRae dies in air crash Colin McRae Colin McRae Richard Rae COLIN McRAE, the former world rally champion, died along with his five-year-old son Johnny when his helicopter crashed near Lanark in Scotland yesterday. Two other people on board, believed to be close friends of McRae, also died. Jean-Eric Freudiger, the driver’s agent, confirmed McRae’s wife Alison and daughter Hollie were not on board. The Squirrel aircraft came down in Jervis Wood near Lanark just after 4pm and immediately burst into flames. Strathclyde police said the damage to the helicopter was so bad that it could not immediately be determined how many people were on board. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been called in to investigate the cause of the crash. The Scottish Ambulance Service said its own helicopter was despatched to the scene along with three ambulance crews. Strathclyde Fire Service also had units in attendance at the scene. McRae was one of the most popular and successful drivers the sport has seen. He won 25 rallies in the World Rally Championship, finished on the podium 42 times and claimed the world championship itself in 1995. The next year he was awarded an MBE. He won a host of fans throughout the world, captivated by his daredevil style – he became as well known for his spectacular spills as for his victories. Related Links * A legend of the road * The people’s champion He achieved his greatest successes with Subaru, before helping to transform the fortunes of Ford. He signed for the team in 1999 and won two races, a feat he repeated the following year. In 2001 he came within a whisker of winning the world championship again but was pipped to the title by fellow Briton Richard Burns. The two men seemed set for a rivalry that would last for years, and captivate the sport, but in a cruel twist of fate, Burns was forced to quit when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Burns fought a brave battle before dying in November 2005 – exactly four years after winning his title. McRae won two more rallies for Ford in 2002, but the team did not renew his contract at the end of the season, and, incredibly, he found himself without a drive. He took part in various celebrity events, pulling in big crowds wherever he drove, and in 2004 he finished third in the GT class of the Le Mans 24-hour race. He also took part in the Dakar rally. In 2005 he recorded two fastest times and was leading the event by more than six minutes when his Nissan hit a hidden ledge and catapulted end over end at high speed. Amazingly, McRae and his co-driver escaped serious injury. McRae was one of the most flamboyant drivers in British sport and inspired one of the world’s best-selling computer rally games. His father, Jimmy, was five times British rally champion, and his son inherited his love of cars. McRae’s brother, Alister, a former British rally champion, is in Australia.

David Coulthard leads tributes to 'fearless' Colin McRae Times Online and agencies David Coulthard has led the tributes to Colin McRae, the former world rally champion, who died in a helicopter crash yesterday. McRae, 39, was confirmed today as one of four who perished in the crash, along with his five-year-old son Johnny, and his friends, six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France. The Squirrel aircraft came down in Jervis Wood near Lanark just after 4pm and immediately burst into flames. Strathclyde police said the damage to the helicopter was so bad that it could not immediately be determined how many people were on board. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been called in to investigate the cause of the crash. Fellow Scot and Formula One driver Coulthard, who was due to partner McRae in Team Scotland for the latest version of the Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium in December, said: "He and Alison [McRae's wife] were good friends and I cannot imagine either without the other. Related Links * Rally ace McRae dies in air crash * A legend of the road * The people’s champion "He was fearless, flamboyant, blindingly quick in the car. "He was very down-to-earth, matter-of-fact that he was so good. He had all the good Scottish traits. "I competed in the Race of Champions with him because of my respect for him. I remember him urging me on, telling to get the finger out for Scotland. "We had some great times and his passing is a terrible blow for the McRae family and everyone who came in contact with him." First Minister Alex Salmond also paid tribute, saying his death was a great tragedy. “Colin McRae was an outstanding Scottish sportsman of international stature and achievement," Salmond said. “His death is a great tragedy, and my thoughts and condolences are with all the families and friends bereaved by this terrible accident.” David Richards, McRae's former boss at Subaru where he enjoyed much of his rallying success, said his death was a terrible loss. Speaking in the paddock at Spa before the Belgian Grand Prix, Richards said: "It's been a really miserable night. "We were flying across when I received a telephone call from Ari Vatanen (1981 World Rally champion) asking whether I heard the news. He didn't tell me until I landed. He said 'just carry on and I'll tell you when you land'. It's unbelievable. "Colin had a competitive spirit like I've never seen in any other individual in my life that could say 'I can do anything'. "I was talking to my son last night. When Colin was world champion Jamie was 14, and he remembers getting on the back of a jet-ski with him, going ski-ing with him. Anything like that Colin was up for it, and you could throw any car at him in any recognised motorsport and he would do well. "I remember when I put him in a Formula One car at Silverstone and how great he was in that straightaway. It could have been a sports car, touring car, Paris-Dakar, you name it. It's unusual to call somebody a legend, but it's very appropriate for Colin." Richards recalls occasions when he was tearing his hair out with McRae, but knows it was his "have-a-go-instinct" that was also so endearing and made him such a hit with fans. "It was just trying to the maximum no matter what happened with Colin - but some of the accidents he had!" added Richards. "I always look back to Finland in 1993 when he must have rolled on three separate occasions in the event. Every time we thought that was the end of the story, only for him to knock the dents out of the car. By the third accident I was knocking the dents out of the car with him! "He was one of those people that had an extraordinary spirit that you can't define or describe very easily." It has been suggested if McRae had been less gung-ho he might have won more than the one world title as he was runner-up on three other occasions and third once. But Richards replied: "That was his style, that was the special thing about him. You would never want to take that away from him." Naturally, as time progressed and with family in mind, Richards witnessed McRae change into a more mellow character. "I can remember the challenges I used to have trying to manage him in the early stages," Richards said. "He was crashing every week and we couldn't pay the bills. We couldn't keep up with the accidents. "But I knew him more of late as great company and a great pal. I met him at Goodwood the other day, and then I chatted to him on the phone only this week. He had matured over the years to be a great guy." Nicky Grist, McRae’s co-driver since 1997, said the whole of the rally world was in shock. “He was such a great character and will be sorely missed," Grist said. Speaking about his time with the former world champion, he added: “I have to say they were the best times of my life. We used to drive to the max and push everything to the absolute limit. But when it came to socialising we had great fun also.” Grist said about the death of his son and the other two passengers: “Johnny adored his father and loved everything about cars. I am sure he was the new rally driver for the McRae family. “Colin was always regarded as being a bit of a risk-taker in cars, but when it came to flying a helicopter he was a totally different man. “The one thing he always told me, he said ’You don’t mess about with a helicopter. They are bigger and better than I am and you have to drive them as such.”’ A post-mortem examination will be carried out on the bodies with a formal identification expected within the next few days. Police are preparing a report for the procurator fiscal. David Learmount, an aviation expert, said McRae was somebody who took safety very seriously. “There’s no way at the moment you can know whether something was wrong with him," Learmount said. “I don’t think the weather was bad enough. He would have made a judgment about the weather, and I don’t think he would have misjudged that. “It’s pure speculation but my suspicion would be that something went wrong with the helicopter.”