Fingers crossed Bad news
15 September 2007, 08:07 PM
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15 September 2007, 09:48 PM
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15 September 2007, 10:41 PM
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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."
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."
16 September 2007, 12:25 AM
#21
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I was privilidged to be introduced to Colin a couple of years back and couldn't beleive what a genuine guy he was and such a passion for motorsport of all kinds
If it does turn out to be Colin the world has lost a true champion
If it does turn out to be Colin the world has lost a true champion
16 September 2007, 12:52 AM
#22
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Just heard the news..........
Can't believe it!!
After all the crazy stuff he did involving the world of cars and he ends up passing in a helicopter crash!
Very sad day and a great loss to the world of motorsport!
Our thoughts go out to the familys of the people involved....
Can't believe it!!
After all the crazy stuff he did involving the world of cars and he ends up passing in a helicopter crash!
Very sad day and a great loss to the world of motorsport!
Our thoughts go out to the familys of the people involved....
16 September 2007, 02:34 AM
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Had a real crap day today and this just puts the cream on it 
my dream to have a Colin Mc Rae P1 is more than it ever was before just out of respect . What a terrible tragedy for all concerned .
my dream to have a Colin Mc Rae P1 is more than it ever was before just out of respect . What a terrible tragedy for all concerned .
16 September 2007, 08:34 AM
#24
Devestating news, another motorsport legend checks out. this one's hit me even harder than even the Senna crash.
To loose Senna, Burns, and Mcrae so early in life is a tragedy.
RIP Colin.
Subaru MUST make a special edition in his honour, not to do so would be sacralidge.
To loose Senna, Burns, and Mcrae so early in life is a tragedy.
RIP Colin.
Subaru MUST make a special edition in his honour, not to do so would be sacralidge.
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