1995: Porsche 911, RAC International Historic, 1st

“Again, I didn’t start the main RAC this year – but I did do the Historic, which finished before the main event. When I won that one in a Porsche 911, I thought maybe that was a good omen!

“The build-up to the final WRC round of the season was pretty intense. I think MN readers are all pretty familiar with the story about the previous round in Spain, when Colin had a wee disagreement with DR… We got all that sorted and Colin was actually really relaxed when he got to the start in Chester. He was like that Colin, he’d deal with something and it was done. No lingering bad feeling, just a rally and a championship to win.

“There were a few issues along the way and I have to admit a few moments of concern, not least when he dropped a couple of minutes with a puncture in Kielder, but Colin and Derek were so calm in the car. Nothing was going to be a problem for them that time and they just got on with the job. They destroyed Carlos and everybody else, nobody could get close to the sort of times they were setting. And by Wednesday afternoon on November 22, 1995, the job was done. I remember my old co-driver interviewing Colin for the television. ‘Colin Mcrae, you are the new World Rally Champion…’ Rob said. It sounded incredible! It was great to have everybody there as well, all the family.

“But one of the big things that people often overlook is the emotion Margaret and I had on that event for Alister and Colin. Alister had just won the British Rally Championship title and he went on to finish fourth in a private Ford Escort Cosworth – first non-subaru behind Colin, Carlos and Burnsie [Richard Burns]. We were pretty proud parents that night. From memory, there might have been a bit of a party!”