Stars turn out for McRae Rally

The first ever World Rally Champion Bjorn Waldegaard is the latest driver to be confirmed for this year’s Colin McRae Stages Rally in Scotland.

The event, which took his name to reflect the support from the 1995 world champion, will include a star-studded entry list turning out in memory of McRae, who died in a helicopter accident last September. The rally will also support the Colin McRae Vision charity.

Waldegaard will drive a Porsche 911 on the September 27 rally, which runs through forests surrounding its Perth base. McRae actually drove the car Waldegaard will use, testing it in Wales when he was considering an entry on a British national event.

Waldegaard, who won the inaugural drivers’ world championship in 1979, said: “I am very pleased that Jimmy McRae invited me to drive on this unique event in honour of Colin.”

Ari Vatanen is another star name certain to attract the crowds. The 1981 champion is re-united with current Subaru World Rally Team principal David Richards in a Ford Escort.

Stig Blomqvist, Hannu Mikkola are Louise Aitken-Walker are the other world champions competing. Aitken-Walker, who won the ladies’ title in 1990, is offering one rally fan the chance to see the event from a unique perspective: the co-drivers’ seat of the Group A Vauxhall Astra she will drive. In the absence of Tina Thorner, the co-driver who guided Aitken-Walker to her title, the Scotswoman is hoping to sell the seat to cover some costs and to make a contribution to Colin McRae Vision.