Historic race and rally news
Hero to get back behind the wheel in a Porsche 911 challenge
Five time British Rally champion Jimmy Mcrae will compete on the two-day Wales Rally GB National Rally on October 4/5 in an historicspecification Porsche 911.
Mcrae, the father of rallying legend and former World champion Colin, remains as determined and competitive as ever and will reach his 76th birthday later in October. He has been rallying for 45 years and first contested Britain’s biggest rally, then the RAC Rally, in 1976.
Mcrae will spearhead the historic field on the national rally, which runs over some of the Friday and Saturday stages of the WRC event.
“Although I’m only competing on the National Rally, it is still very much part of the main event,” he said. “Being based alongside the WRC teams in the service park and using exactly the same stages, it shares the same atmosphere and big crowds.
“I still love it and as long as I get the thrill and remain reasonably competitive I’ll carry on,” he said. “Rally GB is one of the top events in the world – it always stirs up so many fond memories. Sadly, I never won it but did finish on the podium twice in the 1980s.”
Mcrae will compete in the Post Historic class alongside regular co-driver Pauline Gullick in Brian Bell’s three-litre RS model.
“I’ve never actually rallied this car before though I’ve competed against it,” said Mcrae. “Lots of people say the 911 is difficult to drive but they have lots of power and if you get the suspension set-up right you can really have a whole lot of fun.”