World Rally champion Colin McRae MBE has been killed in a helicopter crash near his Scottish home. McRae s agent has confirmed that McRae s five-year-old son, Johnny, was also on board at the time of the crash along with another child and adult. Is it understood that McRae was piloting the AS350B2 Squirrel helicopter when it crashed and caught fire in sight of his family home, Jervis House, in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire. Strathclyde police have confirmed that there were no survivors.
Colin McRae became a World Rally Champion in 1995, and helped Subaru take the Manufacturer s title in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and then for Citroen in 2003. In the mid 1990s, McRae also tested a Formula 1 car for Jordan, however did not pursue a career in F1. Since 1997 he had been racing alongside co-driver Nicky Grist, after splitting with Derek Ringer who helped him secure the championship.
McRae was a close friend of Red Bull’s David Coulthard, and actually moved to the principality of Monaco to join him in 1995 take advantage of the tax benefits – however, as his family grew, he spent more time back at his Lanarkshire home in Scotland.
McRae, 39, leaves behind wife Alison McRae and daughter Hollie, brother Alister, also a rally driver, and a sister. His death will be a tremendous loss to the whole motorsport community, and he will be remembered for his wry sense of humour and raw talent.
