Five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae will mark his fiftieth anniversary of being in the sport, with a return to the series at the Voyonic Grampian Forest Rally [9/10 August].
He will compete toe-to toe with grandson Max in the Probite British Rally Championship [BRC], who will continue his season with the M-Sport squad behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
McRae has the marker of being the most successful driver in the history of the championship, having secured the title in 1981, 82’, 84’, 87’ and finally in 1988. The only driver to come close to beating that 35-year record, is Irishman Keith Cronin whose tally stands at four.
To celebrate his half century behind the wheel of a rally car, McRae will tackle the fourth round of this year’s Probite British Rally Championship in a Ford Escort MKI, similar to the very car he claimed “got him noticed” back in the 70’s and the eighty-year-old will be co-driven by M-Sport’s Gail Whyte, a fellow Coltness Car Club member.
One of the most highly regarded drivers in the sport, McRae’s early career flourished, with works drives for Vauxhall and Ford. At the pinnacle of his career, he spent his time in an Opel Manta 400 with teammates such as Ari Vatanen and Walter Rohrl, before progressing into the iconic MG Metro 6R4. His final BRC title came in 1988 behind the wheel of a Ford Sierra Cosworth.
His world-class legacy remained with sons Colin and Alister, with Colin going on to win the 1995 World Rally Championship and Alister clinching the 1995 British Rally Championship title in a Nissan Sunny.
The family tradition continues with Alister’s son Max, who is dovetailing his BRC commitments with a Junior FIA European Rally Championship campaign.
