Colin McRae
Colin McRae
© WRC
01
Key Facts & Achievements
Name
Colin McRae
Nationality
Scottish
Date of Birth
05.08.1968
WRC Titles
1 (1995)
WRC Wins
25
WRC Podiums
42
WRC Starts
146
WRC Stage Wins
474
Last WRC Event
Rally Turkey 2006
02
Career Summary
Colin McRae became Britain’s first World Rally Champion in 1995 at just 27 years old, setting a record as the youngest-ever champion that stood until 2022. The charismatic Scot secured 25 WRC victories during a spectacular career defined by speed, flair and determination.
Born in Lanark, son of five-time British champion Jimmy McRae, Colin’s natural talent was evident from the outset. He joined Prodrive’s Subaru team in 1991 and quickly made his mark by winning the British Rally Championship in both 1991 and 1992. His first WRC victory came at the 1993 Rally New Zealand, driving a Subaru Legacy.
The 1995 season saw McRae locked in an epic title battle with team-mate Carlos Sainz, ultimately clinching the championship on home soil at Rally GB following a controversial team orders incident at Rally Catalunya. McRae’s pace and tenacity also helped Subaru secure three consecutive manufacturers’ titles between 1995 and 1997.
If in doubt, flat out!
In 1999, McRae moved to Ford, where he won nine rallies over four seasons before joining Citroën in 2003. There, he played a key role in securing the marque’s first manufacturers’ championship. Renowned for his spectacular, all-or-nothing driving style and his famous “if in doubt, flat out” mentality, McRae inspired a generation both on and off the stages - notably through the hugely successful Colin McRae Rally video game series.
Tragically, McRae died in a helicopter crash in 2007, aged 39.
