Colin McRae was one of the most successful and popular rally drivers of all time. He won the World Rally Championship in 1995, becoming the first British driver and the youngest person to do so. He also won 25 rallies and three manufacturers’ titles with Subaru, Ford and Citroën. He was known for his aggressive and spectacular driving style, which earned him many fans around the world. He was also a talented helicopter pilot, who often used his own aircraft to travel between events or for leisure.
However, on 15 September 2007, McRae’s life came to an abrupt end when he crashed his helicopter near his home in Lanark, Scotland. He was 39 years old. He was not alone in the fatal accident. His five-year-old son Johnny, his six-year-old friend Ben Porcelli and his friend Graeme Duncan also died in the crash. The tragedy shocked the motorsport community and the public, who mourned the loss of a great champion and a loving father.
What Caused the Helicopter Crash?
The cause of the helicopter crash that killed McRae and his passengers was investigated by a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI), which is a legal process in Scotland that examines the circumstances of certain deaths. The FAI was held at Lanark Sheriff Court over 16 days in 2011, four years after the accident. The FAI heard evidence from various witnesses, including experts, family members, friends and emergency services.
The FAI concluded that the crash was caused by McRae’s flying errors. According to the FAI report, McRae flew his helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel, into a narrow valley called Mouse Valley, where he performed low-level manoeuvres at high speed. The report stated that this was “imprudent, unreasonable and contrary to the principles of good airmanship”. The report also found that McRae did not have a valid pilot’s licence at the time of the crash, as he had let it expire in February 2005 and had not renewed it.
The FAI report said that McRae had attempted to recover from an “unknown occurrence” that made his helicopter deviate from its intended flight path. However, he was unable to do so because of the position and speed of the helicopter within Mouse Valley and the lack of landing options or escape routes. The report said that McRae could have avoided the crash if he had not flown into Mouse Valley or if he had flown at a higher altitude and lower speed.
The FAI report also said that McRae had taken his son’s friend Ben Porcelli on board without his parents’ permission. Ben’s parents said they did not know that their son was going on a helicopter ride with McRae and that they would not have allowed it if they had known.
How Did the Motorsport World React to McRae’s Death?
McRae’s death was met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from his fellow drivers, teams, fans and media. Many of his former rivals and colleagues expressed their admiration and respect for him as a driver and as a person. Some of them also shared their memories of racing with him or against him.
Some examples of the reactions from the motorsport world are:
- Sébastien Loeb, who succeeded McRae as Citroën’s lead driver and became a nine-time world champion, said: “He was one of my idols when I started rallying. He was always spectacular to watch in a car. He was also very friendly with everybody. It’s very sad news for motorsport.” BBC News
- Richard Burns, who was McRae’s teammate at Subaru and who also died of cancer in 2005, said: “Colin is the reason I got involved in rallying in the first place. He was always flat out and always exciting to watch.” [The Guardian]
- Petter Solberg, who was McRae’s teammate at Subaru and who won the world title in 2003, said: “He was my hero when I started rallying. He taught me a lot about driving and about life. He was always smiling and joking. He was like a big brother to me.” [Autosport]
- David Coulthard, who was McRae’s friend and fellow Scottish racing driver in Formula One, said: “He was an inspiration to me and to many others both in terms of his driving ability and his personality. He lived life to the full and pushed boundaries like few others.” [The Telegraph]
McRae’s legacy as one of the greatest rally drivers of all time lives on through his achievements, his fans and his video games. His name and likeness have been featured in the popular Colin McRae Rally and DiRT series of video games, which have sold millions of copies worldwide. His driving style and skills have also inspired many young drivers who aspire to follow in his footsteps.
McRae’s death was a tragic loss for his family, his friends and the motorsport world. He will always be remembered as a legend, a hero and a star.
