As disappointed as I am than Colin McRae will not appear in next years WRC, I feel that the outrage expressed by many people, both in the general public and the press is somewhat blinkered.

The WRC is a WORLD chanmpionship, not just for the benfits of us here in the UK. Will it honestly make any difference to the championship as a whole? Will Subaru sell less cars because of it? A few maybe, but I doubt whether a bargain supercar like that will be passed up simply because there is no Brit driving one.

McRae was eclipsed totally by his team mates last year, and hasn't really done much for the last few years. He has not really threatened in the championship since his win in '95 (which, it has to be said was greatly aided by Sainz's injury), except on 2 occasions, both of which were ended in spectacular fashion by unforced errors.

Fast? Yes. Exciting? Undoubtedly. Worth shelling out a few million quid for nostalgias sake? Definately not.

The letters in today Motorsport News indicate that the championship is all but lost without him, but I say it is the end of an era that was undoubtedly entertaining and good for us, but an era that has passed it's time nonetheless.

Geezer

There's been plenty said about this here already, but be that as it may, I couldn't agree with you more. The letters in MN seem to have been written by CMR obsessed fanboys still drunk on the memories of 1995, and oblivious to the fact that he simply hasn't lived up to the hype over the past couple of years.

Had to lol at Mr Arnold. If he really meant his threat to buy a Subaru if Colin might have gone there, why on earth is he driving an Evo at the moment? Surely a Focus RS or a Zsara of some sort would have shown that he practised what he preached? :D

I just can't understand the view that McRae simply must be in the WRC, simply because he is who he is (or, rather, was). Nobody is guaranteed a seat at that table, and while he's been great for the sport, if he hasn't got it anymore, he shouldn't be there, period.

just read MN myself and for the editor to put that many letters in saying the same thing is pathetic. I have been reading his editorials for a while and they are in general complete and utter tripe.

As stated, WRC is a global sport and if it cant survive the passing of a once great star that hasnt performed for years, it is in serious trouble. Dave Richards has done the sport no favours with his talking up of how important Colin is, it makes the sport look second rate.

If Colin was so great, how come a 40 something who had to pay for his drive (via raised sponsorship) kicked his arse and almost won the championship in the same car. Not to mention a young guy in his second season in a WRC car kicking his arse too, in the same car.

I love watching Colin drive, he is awesome, but that doesnt get results these days, and the teams need results. If the FIA actually tackled the real costs of the sport and banned active transmition systems and electronically controlled suspension then Colin would be ultra competitive again (if he ever sorts his tantrums out), but for now he isnt, which is a shame.

There is no room for sentimentality in a sport that costs you £500,000 per car and £10,000,000 per year to compete in. I would rather the very limited works seats available now go to those drivers who can get the most out of it.

Yip. Reminds me of a little joke I once heard. Name obviously changed:

Bloke walks up to Colin McRae in the street and says "Excuse me, were you Colin McRae?"

McRae replies: "Sorry, I can't remember".

;)

I still don't understand why all the McRae apologists are directing their vitriol at Subaru alone.

They seem to be forgetting that none of the WRC teams wanted McRae. At least Subaru talked to him about 2004, which is more than Peugeot, Citroen or Mitsubishi were prepared to do. In fact, on those grounds, rather than carry on driving his Evo in some misguided sense of protest/loyalty, Arnold should drive it off a cliff as soon as practical.

Odd too that MN basically printed four different takes on the same letter. Wonder if that genuinely represents the spread of opinion they received on the subject, or merely the opinion of the editor...

Have to agree with you guys on this. Not going into big letter on this, but he has been out driven simple as that, hes to expensive. If he was world champion maybe he could ask for big £. But and a big but at that. Theres younger drivers, doing a better job and doing less damage for less £.