Just been reading www.wrc.com and it looks like theres a possibility of Colin Mc doing Wales Rally GB this year in a 2004 spec "customer" Impreza. Would be great to see him out there again.

Unfortunately SWRT are saying there cars arent available until Oct ober/November, and it would be run through RED, but lets hope somethng gets sorted!

...is it just me or is this a cynical ploy by the Rally GB organisers to boost sales of the forthcoming (highly expensive) tickets for September? I've heard from a reliable source that prices have gone up once again! Of course the potential of CM entering would soften the blow somewhat hence the reason for the rumour...

This is a rumour that's been doing the rounds since the back end of last year. At end of day anyone with the money and an international licence can hire a car and enter the rally, so there's certainly no reason why it shouldn't happen.

As for using a 2004 "customer spec" Impreza WRC, I daresay Prodrive will be selling S10's before too long, so again eminently possible.

At end of day who cares? He's just another ex-WRC driver looking at a one-off drive.

"Just another ex-WRC Driver" ?!? #

:mad: Do you have an axe to grind? Yes he's an ex-WRC driver but one who did more for the sport and Subaru in this country then anyone before or since. Do you think Subaru would still be in the WRC if CMcRae hadn't brought them the success and publicity he did over the years? Without his victories in the mid'90's I doubt Subaru would have bothered to continue down the route they have producing roadgoing cars so all the wannabees can pretend to be Petter Solberg.

It's about time we dropped this typical UK mentality of knocking anyone who's ever done any good and achieved anything. So he's made a lot of money, and lacked motivation recently, so what-it's his life. And if rally fans want to get excited about the fact he's entering the rally then good for them and stop pretending that the guy was no good. He made Subaru in the UK - everyone in the industry admits as much, grudgingly or not.

Maybe you're a new WRC fan and can't remember back a few years, but there was a sport before the WRC era started in the late '90's you know...

:mad: Sorry about the outburst guys, but these people really get on my nerves! They're balanced by a chip on both shoulders I guess...or else they're fans of the 'Welsh Wizard' Nicky Grist...

;) For the record my first RAC was 1978, I'm using my son's scoobynet address, and along with Mikkola, Stig, Henri, Ari, Carlos, Juha, and Tommi, Colin is one of the true greats of the sport. I can't imagine the Finns 'dissing' their old boys like we do - it's a disgrace!




This is a rumour that's been doing the rounds since the back end of last year. At end of day anyone with the money and an international licence can hire a car and enter the rally, so there's certainly no reason why it shouldn't happen.

As for using a 2004 "customer spec" Impreza WRC, I daresay Prodrive will be selling S10's before too long, so again eminently possible.

At end of day who cares? He's just another ex-WRC driver looking at a one-off drive.

I totally agree with you MikeyPat. This man pretty much single handedly raised the profile of rallying in this country. He was and still is one of the most exciting drivers to watch, even before the WRC era. I for one would be very happy to see him back out there in Wales, even if it is a marketing ploy.

Ive been lucky enough to have a ride alongside Colin when he was in his first year with the Focus, and it was undoubtedly one of, if not the best, experience of my life. I hope his break at the moment will revitalise the man and he will return as good as ever, because the WRC misses him the World over.

"Just another ex-WRC Driver" ?!? # Yep. Same as Kankkunen, Auriol, Tommi and all the sport's other legends. This is not a sentimental sport, and with all of them it's a case of "thanks for the memories, don't forget to shut the door on your way out".

:mad: Do you have an axe to grind? That's a bizarre comment. Does one need to have an axe to grind not to worship at the altar of Colin?

Yes he's an ex-WRC driver but one who did more for the sport and Subaru in this country then anyone before or since. Note your use of the past-tense in that sentence. I'm not taking issue with his past achievements. What I am saying is that he's not been the same driver this century as he was last. It's a competitive business and none of the WR teams owes him a seat. If nobody wants him, well, them's the breaks.

I don't know about you, but I have no desire to see a septuagenarian Stirling Moss trundling round the back of an F1 field simply because he was great, and had millions of fans. Same principle applies with McRae. If he can't hack it, he'll be replaced by someone younger/hungrier/cheaper/better looking etc. etc. etc. Nature of the business, and he benefited from it as much as anyone when he was on his way up.

Do you think Subaru would still be in the WRC if CMcRae hadn't brought them the success and publicity he did over the years? Impossible to say as we don't know how many victories other drivers would have got them. If McRae hadn't been born, someone else would have had the Subaru seat. Could have had Kankkunen in the prime of his career, could even have had another Brit.

Without his victories in the mid'90's I doubt Subaru would have bothered to continue down the route they have producing roadgoing cars so all the wannabees can pretend to be Petter Solberg. pmsl. You act like Colin alone was responsible for Subaru's success in the '90's. Subaru gave McRae a winning car, and McRae won enough in '96 to win the championship. They gave him a winning car for a couple of years after that, and he didn't produce.

It's about time we dropped this typical UK mentality of knocking anyone who's ever done any good and achieved anything. This is nothing to do with knocking someone for the sake of it. McRae has had a very good innings, and I was as big a fan as anyone when he was actually threatening to deliver the goods. As you yourself admit, he has lacked motivation for a good couple of seasons, and when you also bear in mind he has forged a reputation for being difficult to work with and had comprehensively burned bridges at both Prodrive and M-Sport when leaving them, it was hardly surprising that he couldn't get a drive this year, especially with a crop of new drivers coming through.

So he's made a lot of money, and lacked motivation recently, so what-it's his life.Of course it's his life. Put yourself in the shoes of a WRC team manager. Would you want to devote several million pounds of your budget to employ a driver who is clearly lacking motivation?

You seem to be thinking that one of the teams should guarantee him a seat, "just because he's Colin McRae". While some people would be happy to see him pootling around at the back of the field until he's given his pension book, I'd rather see a competitive world championship with cars driven by drivers who are hungry to be there, not just going through the motions, as McRae had been for far too long. If he uses this drive, if it happens, to show that he's back to his best, I'll be as happy as you are. As things stand though, I don't see the prospect of him entering as, in itself, reason to start holding street parties.

He made Subaru in the UK - everyone in the industry admits as much, grudgingly or not. Again, if it hadn't been him, it could well have been someone else. Point remains that you're still using the past-tense there, which says it all. Subaru don't need him anymore, as the events of this winter ably proved.

As for "rallying in the UK" somehow needing McRae, there's ample evidence to suggest that it doesn't. WRC viewing figures are actually higher this season than they were in the first four rounds of last year, while the British Rally Championship will have a higher profile than at any time in its history, including the period when McRae and Burns were winning it.

Maybe you're a new WRC fan and can't remember back a few years, pmsl!

:mad: Sorry about the outburst guys, but these people really get on my nerves! These people? Lol, you haven't a clue who I am, let alone what sort of person I am. How on earth can you make character judgements simply because I view McRae in the same way I do any other driver whose moment has passed?

They're balanced by a chip on both shoulders I guess...or else they're fans of the 'Welsh Wizard' Nicky Grist... Excuse me? For the record, I know both Colin and Nicky pretty well, and wouldn't consider myself a "fan" of Nick, far from it. In any case, in what way does being a "fan" of one person automatically mandate negative opinions of another? :confused:

;) For the record my first RAC was 1978, What do you want, a long service medal or something? :confused:

and along with Mikkola, Stig, Henri, Ari, Carlos, Juha, and Tommi, Colin is one of the true greats of the sport. I can't imagine the Finns 'dissing' their old boys like we do - it's a disgrace!Where did you get the idea that I'm dissing Colin? What I saying was that, just like Juha, Tommi, Mikkola, Vatanen et al, Colin is a legend, but a legend who is not owed a seat.

I don't recall you starting a campaign to keep Juha in the WRC when he lost the Hyundai drive. Same with the Mikkola, Salonen et al. Is it all of them or just Colin you get this het up about? Did you start a campaign to persuade Tommi not to retire???

Incidentally, i'm not denying that it'll be good thing to have him in the WRGB this year. I'm sure plenty of drivers will be looking at it as the opportunity to beat him, while the hullaballoo will be good for publicity and ticket sales. It will, however, be largely a sideshow. The action will be taking place at the front of the field, with the current generation of stars fighting it out for the World Championship.

Hey guys chill out! I'm excited by the prospect of seeing McCrae back in a scooby and the WRC, it'll be great to see again.

In fact if this is a PR stunt, that reflects how desperate its becoming to get interest in the welsh carnival. I think it shows more how dull the WRC is becoming, drivers now all drone on in PR scripted monologue and throw their toys about behind closed team motorhome doors. The only thing good at the moment is Petter, not because he drives a subaru but because he shows his emotions, because you can see his ambition to beat the others. He does it with refreshingly little b******t aswell

Colin is of the same mould, when the cars rubbish he jumps out and kicks it, when its great he rings its mechanical neck for all its worth. who wants second? the 1st of the losers! He scared the c**p out of me every first time I saw him in recent years.
when hes driving you know somethings going to happen. Sure he's got faults, thats what makes him so watchable, and the current growing crop sooo dull.

Still thats entertainment folks

I dont think that my post here requires minute dissection, my 2 penneth is all it is

Totally agree - hence the reason I got a bit hot under the collar earlier on. I doubt Colin would ever win the rally again, without a big slice of luck anyway, but the entertainment value is always high!

Our sport's got to entertain if it's to survive - look what happened to F1 when it become full of young dullards and technology took over....

Petter's a good guy - the only one who always talks to his fans no matter how busy he is. Met him in Mobys last year after rally catalunya and despite him having a so-so rally was there having a drink in the public bar with everyone. Top Man.

How cynical can anyone be? Why on earth would the rally GB organisers get Colin in a WRC to boost ticket sales?

Do you really think that Colin would allow himself to be a marketing puppet?

I think its about time we tried to look beyond the "I hate the rally being in Wales" opinions and just accept that maybe Colin fancies another crack at the sport in the car that made him world champion.

Even if Colin wasn't on the start/finish ramp, would the rally be a lesser event? Don't the new breed of drivers (loeb, martin, solberg) bring enough excitment to the event or has rallying become a stale has-been?

Come on guys, get excited - this is our opportunity to see the world's best drivers thrashing about in the worlds best cars on arguably the best forest stages in the world.

Well I'm looking forward to it anyway!!

(rant over!)

when you also bear in mind he has forged a reputation for being difficult to work with and had comprehensively burned bridges at both Prodrive and M-Sport
Too true, unfortunately. On the occasions i've "met" him at M-Sport tests and at rallies he wasn't competing on, he was arrogant and self centered. Not even able to say "good morning" in return to a greeting.

He might be "arrogant and self centered" but by f**k he's a lot more exciting to watch stage-side then Loeb, Martin, and Petter! Unfortunatley, and it's not their fault, but the latest breed of drivers are a bit boring to watch - get to an event this year and see how neat and tidy the young drivers are, with maybe the possible exception of Duval who does get a bit sideways even on tarmac.

They've being brought up with the current WRC machines which handle more like racing cars than traditional rally cars. Before someone bleats on about 'progress' and 'technology' can I just say that there are a lot of people in the sport worried about the lack of spectacle stage-side right now. It's good to have some technical interest in the sport but at the end of the day the WRC should be about the best drivers in the world demonstrating their skills in car control and improvisation and getting damn sideways in the process!

Read Markku Alen's recent comments in Autosport - more power, less grip, and get rid of the electronics, they're stiffling the young driver's ability to demonstrate their technique.

Sure some know-it-all will shoot me down in flames, but its my opinion, and that's what this forum is all about, so no lengthy dissection point by point please!

Unfortunatley, and it's not their fault, but the latest breed of drivers are a bit boring to watch - get to an event this year and see how neat and tidy the young drivers are, Don't blame the drivers for that. As you correctly pointed out further down your post, the latest generation of cars have lower and lower centres of gravity along with cleverer active transmission technology, and reward a more controlled, less "sideways" driving style. One of the reasons Colin increasingly failed to perform over the last couple of seasons is that he couldn't tune his driving in to the car as effectively as, for example, Carlos Sainz.

but at the end of the day the WRC should be about the best drivers in the world demonstrating their skills in car control and improvisation and getting damn sideways in the process! That, of course, is strictly your opinion... ;) The quickest drivers will only put the car sideways when they have to.

Read Markku Alen's recent comments in Autosport - more power, less grip, and get rid of the electronics, they're stiffling the young driver's ability to demonstrate their technique. There is a certain amount of truth in that, to be sure. Removing the rule that allows manufacturers to relocate the engine and transmission in the car, along with getting rid of active diffs, would reduce costs and bring some of the "sideways" nature of the sport back.

However, I'm not sure it's fair to claim that the technology prevents the drivers from showing their technique. At end of day I've utmost respect for both Loeb and Solberg. The pair of them showed a clean pair of heels to both McRae and Makinen in the same cars. If Colin and Tommi couldn't adapt to the driving styles necessary of modern cars, that's a compliment to Petter and Loeb, not an implied criticism of the technology.

In any case, saying that the gizmos should go is all very well, but it's difficult to achieve when manufacturers like Peugeot justifiably like to use the sport to develop bleeding-edge technologies. It is also fair to say that the "best" drivers are the ones who learn to get the best out of their machinery, whether that's in terms of flinging it through the woods, or optimising the car's transmission mapping to their driving styles.

Sure some know-it-all will shoot me down in flames, On the contrary there's a lot of good in what you say.

but its my opinion, and that's what this forum is all about, so no lengthy dissection point by point please!Whether you (or indeed anyone else) likes it or not, the clearest way to respond to a post cointaining multiple points is to separate them and reply to each in turn. Blame the English language!

Let me expand a little...I'm saying that the current regs don't allow the drivers to demonstrate their technique as much ie. with a car that slides around more it is easier for spectators and lesser mortals like us all to see a driver that for instance carries more understeer into the corner, or for instance uses a higher degree of slip angle throught the first part of the corner. Colin and Tommi were great drivers because they managed to win in the modern era (don't forget they both took some great wins in 2002 and weren't that far off the pace last year) with an exciting style of driving, and indeed one could say that Gronholm and Sainz still do, certainly both were still good to watch, and quick, when I saw them in Mexico recently.

In it's extreme case look back to the rally vids of the Grp4 era - you can see Walter Rohrl was quick by carrying a lot of understeer through the corner, that Toivinen was quick by approaching the apex already sideways but well on the gas so that he carried a greater exit speed, whilst Vatanen took more of a classical line by applying the power, and getting sideways throughout the apex and 2nd half of the corner. Some styles were more flamboyent than others, some drove with a larger safety margin than others by being always sideways, but the point is that you and I could see the difference the driver was making.

Loeb, Petter, Martin etc are all as good as the old guys in their own way I'm sure but somehow it doesn't stir the soul as much watching them. It all looks the same on TV of course, whch is half the problem - you can make anything look good on TV witness some of the touring car races from the '90's which were s**t boring to watch live but looked great after being re-edited by BHP!

I don't know what the anwer is, but maybe the recent recce changes might make a difference as the less knowledge a driver takes into a stage the more he is likely to drive sideways as that gives him a safety margin. Think back to the old 'secret' RAC's; the drivers had to have a little safety margin in case the corner tightened, or there was some more mud/ice or soemthing round the corner, so they slid the car more as it's easier to change direction once the car is sliding a little. Likewise if there are no gravel crews perhaps they will have to adopt a more tradiotional approach to the first half of the corner?

I think the more unpredictable we make the sport again the better, that's why i'm also a bit sad to see the GB rally go to a drier date as again that little bit of uncertaintity will disapear.

On a lighter note, I've booked to go to Finland again this year, as on those stages even my wife would be spectacular in her Yaris 'Shopping Trolley' ! And I'll be in Cardiff as ever, as at the end of the day if you pick your viewing spot well it's still impressive, just different I guess...

On a lighter note, I've booked to go to Finland again this year, as on those stages even my wife would be spectacular in her Yaris 'Shopping Trolley' ! And I'll be in Cardiff as ever, as at the end of the day if you pick your viewing spot well it's still impressive, just different I guess...

LOL! I could just imagine you (well ok, some/any crazed rally fan) flying through the air over the jumps in their wife's Yaris (with a grin a mile wide) .... :)

Tell me bout it !!!!!! then all the bollo**ings that come with it. lol lol

Don't put too much blame on the cars and electronics for the more smooth style that wins rallies recently. The style is generally just faster.

The older style drivers such as colin, tommi (to a slightly lesser extent), ari, etc was to brake earlier, stick it sideways, feel for grip and then get on the gas with plenty (and inch or two) in reserve just in-case.

The petter, markko, loeb, etc technique is far agressive. Brake later and harder, feed in the steering as the brakes are feathered off, end up at maximum cornering just as the brakes are fully released and power is starting to go back on, using less and less cornering energy as the acceleration begins. It means they are RIGHT on the limit all the way through the corner.

The scandinavian flick, whilst a wonderful spectacle, is simply not as fast... it's a hell of a lot safer, but it represents a load of wasted energy.

What has contributed to this?? Well, the car WILL have contributed a little, the tyres will have helped no end.. but if you had the guts and skill to punt an older style car in the way that the new crop drive the new cars, you'd still be quicker. You'd just end up having a lot more half spins (as you see regularly with the newer drivers) as there is no margin for error.

For a driver, or engineer, etc.. to watch the new guys driving is more spectacular than the old style, purely from a raw speed and control point of view... but I have to say, the big sideways action of yesteryear, will certainly have a place in most of our hearts.

All the best

Simon

Simon has a point. I've also watched the said 'boring' drivers at various events - Catalunya, Monte Carlo, Wales, Germany etc - they are far from it. When you view in the correct places and you watch these guys on the limit, they are anything but boring. McRae was always a spectacular driver to watch, but times do move on. In my viewing experience, the cars still get thrown around an awful lot.

The sport moves on - yes it would be nice to see Colin race again in Wales, but I'm not convinced it will happen.

Chris

Hey I'm not too ashamed to say that maybe I've learned something here. I look forward to the rally and seeing some of this 'in action' (thats not meant as patrionising as it reads). I would also admit to being suprised to see colin in the rally this year, but not dissapointed if he did come sideways round the corner!!

If Colin does the rally that's the only thing that would make me go and watch it - I've watched him when he was 16yrs old on the Snowman Rally in Scotland and he was entertaining then - I also watched him on the Durham Stages when he won the World Title. Of course seen him in between and afterwards as well.

Im not really interested if he wins or not I just like watching him drive - I remember dad Jimmy's comment after the Snowman appearance when Colin's aggressive driving style invoked several visits to the "scenery"!

"I'll teach him where the brake pedal is next week".

If it is a ploy by the organisers to attract attention it worked - I wouldn't have considered going before I read that he may be there!!

don`t get your hopes up he will not be there (wont drive an s9 )and the 04`s will not be released till mid november

Where have YOU been? Colin Mc Rae, Just another ex WRC driver??? This man, to ANY TRUE rallying enthusiast, love him or hate him, must surely be seen as an integral part of rallying.
Personally I prefer the looks of Loeb, the excitement & pure enjoyment in Solberg, the hope that Martin will get with a decent team, the potential of Chris Meek, the ambition of Lorna Smith! & the shear determination and stamina of Sainz, (obviously, being a mere chick).
I am not a particular fan of McRae, but, once you've seen that man drive, how could you not want to see his driving again, and again. He may not win lot's of WRC's but, who cares.
If you're new to rallying, anti-Scottish,or SOMETHING stick with F1 for predictability and an easy life (after all, they've got LOT'S of money). Or, if you want to see driving with total commitment, passion and something a little different and unpredictable you must respect McRae's position in rallying, in or out of Wales Rally GB.
This may indeed be a rumour but boy is in 1 I live in hope of!
Not qiute sure what you're looking for in the WRC but, hope you get it and enjoy it!

Have a Happy Rally GB!

This is a rumour that's been doing the rounds since the back end of last year. At end of day anyone with the money and an international licence can hire a car and enter the rally, so there's certainly no reason why it shouldn't happen.

As for using a 2004 "customer spec" Impreza WRC, I daresay Prodrive will be selling S10's before too long, so again eminently possible.

At end of day who cares? He's just another ex-WRC driver looking at a one-off drive.

Where have YOU been? Colin Mc Rae, Just another ex WRC driver??? This man, to ANY TRUE rallying enthusiast, love him or hate him, must surely be seen as an integral part of rallying.Lol, how dare you be so presumptuous? "True" rallying enthusiast? Where do you get off?

Anyway, where did you get the idea that I didn't see Colin as an integral part of the sport. I see McRae in exactly the same way I do Makinen, Kankkunen, Henri Toivonen and a stack of others. That doesn't mean I'd want Henri dug up and his remains shoved in a World Rally Car, or indeed Tommi to carry on longer than he wanted to.

McRae's achievements will always be an integral part of rallying. However, his driving isn't, and the sport hasn't wasted any time getting on with itself. Thanks for the memories Colin, it was fun, good luck in the future.

I am not a particular fan of McRae, but, once you've seen that man drive, how could you not want to see his driving again, and again. He may not win lot's of WRC's but, who cares. Where did you get the idea that I didn't want to see him drive? I used to love watching the McRae of the last century, and, thanks to the wonders of video recording, still do, regularly.

Unfortunately, the McRae of this century was increasingly underperforming, overpaid, and difficult to work with. He'd been there, seen it, done it, got the paycheck, and didn't really give a f**k. He freely admitted that he was lacking motivation last year, and the way Loeb (a man in his first full season) and Sainz (a so-called veteran of 41) showed him a clean set of wheels proved it.

I was hoping that the time off would fire him up again, and if that happens I'd be as happy as anyone else. However, I'm not going to sit here crying if it doesn't.

If you're new to rallying, anti-Scottish,or SOMETHING pmsl, you haven't a clue how long I've followed the sport or what my nationality is. You know what assumption is, right?

Or, if you want to see driving with total commitment, passion and something a little different and unpredictable you must respect McRae's position in rallying, in or out of Wales Rally GB. I do respect his position in rallying. He achieved a lot, but it's a competitive sport, and if you don't pull your weight, you're out. He was the third best member of the 2003 Citroen team, and the inevitable happened. No team owes McRae a seat, and if he can't raise the sponsorship necessary to do the WRGB, that says it all. If you want him in the event that badly, why don't you send him a tenner, and ask your friends to do the same? If enough pitch in, he might end up with a budget.

This may indeed be a rumour but boy is in 1 I live in hope of! McRae has said today that it's not happening, so either this is a last ditch attempt to pull some sponsors out of the woodwork, or it's really not happening.

Not qiute sure what you're looking for in the WRC but, hope you get it and enjoy it! Pretty much the same thing as you by the sound of things. Drivers who drive like their life depends on it, rather than just go through the motions as CMR spend most of the last couple of years doing.

Have a Happy Rally GB!I will, see you there! :)

Just for your information - and to make you jealous,

Went to Goodwood this weekend, and got two rather good autographs.... Colin Mcrae and John Ragnotti.... Amongst others!
ho hum

the only autograph i got was gwyndaff evans at the rally day in castle comb!

If he was to do the rally GB, who is the main funder of the team, is it a main backer aswell as Colin shelling out a few million. Or does he depend soleley on his sponsorship and other ad's?