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RALLY CHAMP McRAE DIES IN COPTER CRASH


Rally-driving legend Colin McRae was killed yesterday when his helicopter crash-landed close to his home.

McRae, 39, was piloting his fiveseater Squirrel chopper when it came down at 4pm.

There were two bodies in the badly-burned wreckage, and it was feared that the second victim was his five-year-old son Johnny.

He also has daughter Hollie, nine, and his wife Alison, 39, was away at horse-trials.

Multi-millionaire McRae was coming into land on the heli-pad at his mansion when he crashed into a forest. Last night shocked relatives gathered at the scene near Lanark, Scotland.

McRae, son of five-times British rally champion Jimmy, became the first British driver to win the World Rally crown in 1995.

He was runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001 and helped Subaru to the manufacturers’ title in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and Citroen in 2003.

He also lent his name to a series of hit computer games based on rallying.

Colin, an MBE since 1996, survived many accidents, including a helicopter crash in Kenya in 1998.

In 2000 he was cut free from his Ford Focus when it fell into a ravine in the Corsica Rally.

In 2005 he survived a Dakar Rally smash when his Nissan rolled end-over-end.

A self-confessed thrill-seeker, he once said: “Risk is relative: it’s all about speed and excitement.”
Mirror

Tributes paid to McRae



Rally driver Colin McRae's father Jimmy spoke last night of the family's sorrow at the tragic loss of his son and five-year-old grandson Johnny.

Both died in the helicopter crash which also claimed the lives of Colin's friend Graeme Duncan, 37, and Johnny's playmate Ben Porcelli, six.

Jimmy McRae, 63, a five-times British rally champion, said: "Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and eight-year-old Hollie.

"Johnny was a great wee guy He was with his dad every spare minute. He looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty in cars. Ben was a great buddy of Johnny's.


"Graeme, who lived in France, was a friend of Colin's from schooldays." Colin, 39, the 1995 world rally champion, was piloting his Twin Squirrel helicopter when it came down near his Lanark home on Saturday and burst into flames. Police said an investigation was taking place. A senior officer added: "Witnesses told us there were noises coming from the helicopter which were unusual."

Graeme's uncle, farmer Andrew Duncan, said his nephew had spent the afternoon quad-biking with Colin.

An interpreter with aircraft components firm Rotier, Graeme leaves wife Jennifer and 10-month-old Jake.

Andrew added: "He was here to attend a wedding. We're devastated."

David Richards, 55, Colin's former boss at Subaru, was yesterday also in a helicopter crash. Hours after expressing condolences for the McRaes, he and his wife walked away from the wreckage near North Weald airfield, Essex. David said: "We heard this bang at the back. I managed to bring it down and it fell on its side. Sometimes you're lucky. It's very sad that Colin was not."

McRae's rally co-driver from 1997, Nicky Grist, said: "He was a great character and will be sorely missed.

"Colin was always regarded as being a bit of a risk-taker in cars but he always told me, 'You don't mess about with a helicopter'."

Ben's father Mark and mother Karen, from Lanark, said last night: "We are absolutely devastated".
Mirror