THE former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family's home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

 

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae's agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult and another child. Police said there were no survivors.

 

McRae's wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.

 

McRae became Britain's first World Rally champion in 1995. He was one of the country's most successful sportsmen, achieving 25 wins in World Rally events and 42 podium places. He was a flamboyant driver, inspiring one the world's best-selling computer rally games.

 

The helicopter came down within half a mile of McRae's home, Jervis House, a 16th-century tower house, which has an adjacent helipad. The weather had been overcast, with a light breeze, but visibility was good.

 

Strathclyde police said the extent of the fire damage was making identification a problem.

 

McRae's wife, a childhood sweetheart and his former co-driver, was taken back to the house under police escort shortly after 6pm. She looked calm, but neighbours gathering outside the house looked shaken with grief.

 

McRae's friend the rally journalist Jeremy Hart who flew with the champion several times described him as a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none". "Colin regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe," said Hart. "He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly.

 

"As a driver Colin was misunderstood slightly as being reckless but everything you saw with him came from pure raw talent as opposed to being learnt. He was the Michael Schumacher of rally driving.

 

"It's so ironic that he should die in a helicopter crash when he had competed and had brushed with death so many times as a rally driver."

 

Additional reporting: Paul Lamarra

 

Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Possum Bourne 3 fantastic rally drivers taken too soon. Imagine how his wife feels to lose your husband and especially a child, what could be worse. I know if I lost my wife and children in a accident life wouldnt be worth living. Condolences to his poor wife. R.I.P Colin :D ;) :P

:D ;) :P

 

RIP Colin :(

Wasn't expecting that. RIP Colin.

 

Des :D

The Subaru curse strikes again. :D

 

Another sad day. There seems to be too many of them......

Edited September 16, 200719 yr by Redwarf

Holy Shit

 

Your kidding, right :D

 

Loved watching him drive.

 

Yep, sad day indeed

Life's f@$ked.

 

RIP Colin and Johnny.

Just heard about this - condolences to his wife and daughter. Another legend lost too soon. :D

This is very sad news indeed, I feel for Colin's family for this is a very painful time. I had the opportunity to meet Colin at Rally Australia a couple of times i found him a very likable man who had allot of time for all of the people that put the event together. I guess we will all miss the legend but lets not forget the man.

:D

Found this on a rally club site, RIP Colin and Johnny.

 

Up at five and really so keen,

To see the bond of man and machine

 

3 hours to drive to get to the start

We all have a laugh and so full of heart

 

We know it is early, the weather is damp

But we need to see cars come off the ramp

 

Through fog and rain we push on with style

We know the main man is due in a while

 

Then comes a whistle, the marshal says time

A car is now coming through forests of pine

 

Its howl is so frightening, like a banshee on heat

There is no escape, as we shuffle our feet

 

And suddenly now its why we are here

McRae over crest of course in top gear!

 

Its been worth the wait, the weather, the toil,

To see the brave Scot here on home soil

 

But now there is silence, and its deafening too

Cos you and the wee man have bid us adieu.

 

So rest in peace Colin you and your lad

You gave us your best, John be proud of your dad.

 

The memories you left us are all just the best

You shone like a star, just simply the best.

 

Colin you"re a mate and thats what we all thought

It made you our hero and that just can't be bought.

 

Now your in heaven with your boy and at rest

But you left us the true meaning of FLAT OVER CREST!.

thats beautiful, i like that poem

Another Racing driver lost close to Bathurst 1000.

RIP Colin