Colin McRae

170
Colin McRae bigraphy, stories - World Rally Championship driver

Colin McRae : biography

05 August 1968 – 15 September 2007

Colin Steele McRae, MBE (5 August 1968 – 15 September 2007) was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.

The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995 became the first British person and the youngest to win the World Rally Championship Drivers’ title, a record he still holds.

McRae’s outstanding performance on the Subaru World Rally Team enabled the team to win the World Rally Championship Constructors’ title three times in succession in 1995, 1996 and 1997. After a four-year spell with the Ford Motor Co. team, which saw McRae win nine events, he moved to Citroën World Rally Team in 2003 where, despite not winning an event, he helped them win the first of their three consecutive manufacturers’ titles. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to motorsport in 1996.

McRae died in 2007 when the helicopter he was piloting crashed near his home. The accident also claimed the lives of his son and two family friends. In November 2008 he was posthumously inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.

Death

McRae died on 15 September 2007 when his helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350, crashed 1-mile (1.6 km) north of Lanark, Scotland, close to the McRae family home. McRae’s five-year-old son Johnny, and two family friends, Graeme Duncan and Johnny’s six-year-old friend Ben Porcelli, also died in the crash. McRae’s previously active website, , was later replaced with a memorial screen stating a few details about the crash, and then with a short statement released on behalf of McRae’s father, Jimmy, and later a book of condolences.

Funeral and celebration services

The funeral for Colin and Johnny took place on 26 September at Daldowie Crematorium near Glasgow, conducted by the Rev Tom Houston, who had married the McRaes, and the Rev Steven Reid, chaplain at Johnny’s school. An address was given by Robbie Head, a former rally driver and commentator who was a close friend of McRae’s, with the Rev Houston giving the benediction. McRae’s niece and nephews performed the tune Highland Cathedral, a popular funeral song. Also, the song "(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding, a favourite song of McRae’s, was played when the family entered the chapel; and The Proclaimers’ song "I’m on My Way" was played when they left. Colin and Johnny McRae were cremated in the same coffin. Among the attendees at the funeral were fellow Scottish racing drivers Jackie Stewart and Dario Franchitti.

A "Celebration of Life" service took place at St Nicholas Church in Lanark on Sunday 30 September at 4 pm. Images from McRae’s career and personal life were displayed on large video screens outside the church. Around 700 mourners filled the church, with crowds of up to 15,000 outside. Shortly before 4 pm, a lone bagpiper played "Flower of Scotland" as the family arrived at the church. The service was conducted by the Rev Alison Meikle, who said "Two weeks ago Lanark was struck by silence. A terrible silence bought at an enormous price. However, in our tears love is stronger than death." Later, the Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton song "Islands in the Stream", a favourite of Johnny’s, was played. Friends of the pair shared poems and anecdotes from the McRaes’ lives. After the service, Colin McRae’s widow, brother and father bowed and applauded the crowds who had gathered outside to pay tribute to the McRaes.

Reaction

McRae’s death was met by much grief from former colleagues, rivals and fans alike. Formula One driver David Coulthard, a good friend of McRae, who was due to represent Scotland along with him in the Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium on 16 December, described him as "an understated yet fantastically talented individual", he also announced that he would race the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix with a helmet paint design similar to that of McRae’s as a tribute. During the finale of the 2007 Scottish Rally Championship, the "Colin McRae Forest Stages" held in Perth in September 2007, there was no number 1 car as McRae had been due to drive the course car on the event. Instead, his car was parked at the starting point of the rally, where fans were able to sign a book of condolences.