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In memoriam
Colin McRae (5 August 1968 - 15 Sepember 2007)
To most Britons of his
own generation Colin McRae was indisputably the greatest rally
driver ever. While Finnish fans would possibly think that honour
should belong to our own Tommi Mäkinen, in reality the two factions
are thinking along similar lines.
It was the great rivalry - and friendship - between those two giants of the sport that complemented their status. Both uncomplicated individuals, they often seemed to think along similar lines, too. No bullshit - and may the best man win!
Finnish rally spectators undoubtedly sensed that friendship and it made Colin closer to us. But in fact, he´d already won us over before Tommi became his regular challenger on world level.
Foreign drivers have never had the easiest of apprenticeships on Finnish roads, but those who attack them with a big heart quickly achieve hero status. So it was with Colin McRae.
Stories vary about how many times Colin rolled his Subaru Legacy in the 1992 1000 Lakes Rally. Yet he never stopped attacking. The car looked a sorry mess and eighth place was not sensational news, but the way he got there certainly was!
In time Colin became so synonymous with Subaru it´s easy to overlook how hugely successful he was with Ford, too. The lone world title doesn´t quite do justice to his stature in the sport. It´s the list of his WRC wins that gives a truer reflection of the man´s versatility and achievement.
Colin McRae never did win in Finland and while we don´t like being beaten on home ground it´s safe to say that neither would we have begrudged his triumph on the roads where he gave so much.
Text by Esa Illoinen.
Photo by McKlein.
Listen to Colin McRae Tribute
World Rally Radio has published its tribute podcast to Colin McRae. The tribute features interviews of McRae´s co-driver Nick Grist, his Subaru team boss David Richards and Martin Whitaker, the former Ford Motorsport chief. You can listen to the tribute either through wrc.com or on iTunes.