Colin’s Car For Kris at McRae Rally Challenge
Knockhill – May 16th / 17th
There won’t be a dry eye in the house when rally fans see what the Citroen World Rally Team has planned for next week’s McRae Rally Challenge. They are planning to bring a Citroen Xsara World Rally Car to the event for Argentine Rally winner Kris Meeke to drive.
And it’s not just any Citroen Xsara, this one will look exactly as it was when Colin McRae drove for the French Team 12 years ago.
Given the unique nature of this event being staged to commemorate the 20th anniversary of McRae’s World Rally title, Citroen have decided to make their own special tribute to McRae by having the vehicle liveried as it was 12 years ago when he drove for the team. A fitting gesture which only goes to highlight the esteem in which Colin was held the world over by his colleagues, competitors and fans.
The significance of Kris Meeke driving a Citroen in Colin McRae’s colours will provide the Knockhill crowd with a truly mesmerising spectacle.
Two weeks ago, at the end of the final stage of Rally Argentina, on one of the toughest events in the World Rally Championship calendar, and on the occasion of his first WRC victory, an emotional Meeke’s first thoughts were not about himself. His first words to the waiting pack of journalists and photographers were: “The one person who I owe the most isn’t here. This one’s for Colin.”
Because of that, when Meeke fires up the Xsara and drives it out of the Paddock on to the track for the first time on Saturday 16th May he will undoubtedly be met by a groundswell of popular support and a huge wave of emotion .
There will also be another surprise for rally fans at this two-day McRae Rally Challenge which is being supported by Beatson’s Building Supplies and EventScotland.
Colin’s brother Alister is flying in from Australia, where he now lives, to take part. Until now his choice of car has been secret, but it can now be confirmed that he will be driving a Proton Satria, similar to the car in which he won the 2011 FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.
Coincidentally, the Malaysian based car manufacturer originally contracted with a north of England based motorsports engineering company to develop its range of World title winning rally cars. Based at Bakewell near Sheffield, Mellors Elliott Motorsport (MEM) is one of the UK’s top development and preparation experts. More recently, the team has been developing a new generation of Proton rally cars with English built Millington engines and the MEM team has confirmed that they will be bringing one of these rather special new cars north for Alister to drive.
Full event details and timetable for this remarkable and memorable event can be found on www.Knockhill.com with discounted tickets available on line up to midnight of Friday 15th May or at the gate each day.
