Rally fans flocked to Knockhill over the weekend as the entire McRae rallying dynasty was celebrated in style. The event commemorated 30 years since Colin won the World Rally Championship, 30 years since Alister triumphed in the British Rally Championship and 50 years of rallying for their father Jimmy.
PLUS: Colin McRae’s 10 greatest rallies ranked
However, the McRae Rally Challenge was much more than just a competitive rally as star guests, parades, demonstrations and fan engagement all came together to make it a resounding success.
Max McRae wins the family rally
Fairytale script was written for Max McRae’s first overall victory
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Max McRae, son of Alister, could not have chosen a better moment to record his first overall rally win.
Driving the Skoda Fabia Rally2 that David Bogie recently took to another Scottish title, McRae was absolutely on it from the very start and took control on Saturday before consolidating his lead in the senior rally on Sunday.
With regular co-driver Cameron Fair alongside, McRae was mighty and was not going to settle for anything other than outright victory. It was his first time in a Fabia Rally2, and he came away impressed with the car’s ability.
McRae said: “It’s been amazing. It’s such a nice car and winning this weekend is cool. Dad won it in 2015 and it’s great to get my name on it as well.”
Solberg thrills the fans
McRae’s former team-mate Solberg was in his element
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
Petter Solberg took the chance to remember his former team-mate and mentor Colin McRae and travelled to Knockhill to spend a day greeting the fans, signing autographs and generally being Petter Solberg.
Solberg posed constantly for selfies and signed all sorts of memorabilia as the fans flocked to this extrovert character. He was quick to acknowledge how much of an influence Colin had been in his early career.
Solberg said: “Colin was a very special man and I have special memories. It’s great to be here today. When I was invited to come by the McRae family, it was great.”
Dario Franchitti – rally driver
IndyCar great Franchitti swapped disciplines for the weekend
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
For a man who made his name at the very highest level in circuit racing, Dario Franchitti is quite a rally fan and took part in the event that celebrated his dear friend Colin McRae.
He was installed in the fearsome five-litre Firenza Chevrolet of Mick Strafford and it was a culture shock for the four-time IndyCar champion. A first stage bump when caught out by the brakes didn’t help but, after that, Franchitti warmed to the task and was soon looking every part the rally driver, finishing third among the historic entries.
Franchitti said: “It’s a bit emotional for me and to see the turn-out is incredible. This shows you the draw the McRae name and Colin, in particular, has.”
Jimmy and Hollie go rallying
Hollie McRae made her competitive debut alongside her grandfather Jimmy
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
For her competitive rally debut, Hollie McRae could not have done better than sit alongside her grandfather Jimmy as they took part in the McRae Rally Challenge in a Stobart Ford Escort Mk2. This was the car that Jimmy used to win the Roger Albert Clark Rally back in 2006 and though it was his first competitive outing for over a year, this veteran competitor was soon back into the groove.
Hollie said: “I felt every emotion under the sun in the lead up to this. But I totally loved it. I felt very calm as we went off the startline. Of all of the people in all of the cars to do a first rally, I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Two famous Imprezas reunited
Works Imprezas from 1995 were in attendance at Knockhill
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Back in 1995 Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz were team-mates in the works Subaru squad and both of their Imprezas were on hand at Knockhill. L555 BAT, the McRae RAC Rally-winning car, was there from the Prodrive stable, while Scot Calum MacLeod sent L555 REP, the Sainz car that finished second.
L555 BAT took to the track in the celebration parades and it was very special to see Alison McRae, Colin’s widow, drive it for the first time to head the parade. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law Alister took L555 REP by the scruff of its neck as he used it as the event’s course car.
Pearson honours Scottish rallying heritage
BRC contender relished competing in front of the McRae fans
Photo by: Ben Lawrence
Garry Pearson is one of Scotland’s leading competitors of the modern generation and has shown strong pace in this year’s British Rally Championship. So it was no surprise that he was up at the sharp end of the senior rally at Knockhill, finally finishing fourth.
For Pearson, it was a perfect opportunity to join in the celebrations for the McRae family and give his sponsors a day in the sunshine.
Pearson said: “There’s so much history amongst the McRae family and Max was my team-mate last year and we’re good pals. It’s a great event for me to be able to attend, and it’s good for my sponsors. It’s good to be able to get in front of the fans as well.”
Forrester tops the Junior pack
Forrester’s Skoda was triumphant on the junior rally
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
The Scottish Junior 1000 Championship is always a significant part of the McRae event at Knockhill and a capacity entry of 25 14-17 year-olds were there, running alongside some of the biggest names in their sport.
The competition was incredibly intense and for much of the rally young Welshman Henri Cynwyl set a fierce pace. However, at midday on Sunday, he clattered the front of his Citroen and was forced to miss a stage, which cost him any shot of victory.
Instead, the contest between Ollie Forrester and McKenzie Snowden continued apace, and it was Forrester’s Skoda Citigo that edged ahead by just three seconds as his title rival William Paterson struggled home 12th after an early penalty for a wrong stage.
Cunningham stars with runner-up finish
Yorkshireman Cunningham may have less experience but he still took the fight to McRae
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
One of the absolute stars of the weekend was the underrated Joe Cunningham, who led the chase of Max McRae in the senior rally at the wheel of the ex-Mads Ostberg Ford Fiesta WRC owned by his uncle Kevin Procter.
The Yorkshireman showed his outstanding natural pace by keeping McRae on his toes all weekend. Although his seat time this year is very modest compared to that of McRae, Cunningham was a real star and well deserved the runner-up position.
Cunningham said: “To be matching and even taking some time out of Matt Edwards is just unreal. I didn’t expect that at all, so I’m really happy. Max is absolutely flying and he’s on a different level.”
Podium for Edwards in Hyundai R5
Triple BRC champion Edwards was a late entry in original Hyundai i20 R5
Photo by: Paul Lawrence
Three-time British Rally champion Matt Edwards was a late addition to the quality entry list for the McRae Rally Challenge when he accepted an offer from John Wink to drive Wink’s Hyundai i20 R5.
Edwards has coached the Scottish driver over the years and jumped at the chance to take part in such a significant event in the original Hyundai i20 R5, chassis 001.
Third place in the senior rally was a deserved result for the car first driven by Kevin Abbring in 2016. Wink has owned it since 2017 and has rallied it extensively, notably in the Scottish Rally Championship.
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