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Colin McRae

Colin McRae was a Scottish rally driver best known for winning the 1995 World Rally Championship, becoming the first British driver to do so.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Colin McRae was a Scottish rally driver best known for winning the 1995 World Rally Championship, becoming the first British driver to do so. He won 25 World Rally Championship events and was awarded an MBE in 1996 for services to motorsport. He died in a helicopter crash in 2007.

Early life and career beginnings

Colin McRae was born in Lanark in 1968 and was the son of rally driver Jimmy McRae. He began rallying in the mid-1980s and entered the World Rally Championship in 1987.

World Rally Championship success

McRae became world champion in 1995 with Subaru and remained one of the leading drivers in the series for the next decade. He achieved 25 WRC wins and 42 podium finishes over 146 starts.

Later career and retirement

After Subaru, McRae drove for Ford and later Citroën, helping Citroën win its first manufacturers' title in 2003. He retired from full-time rallying that year.

Legacy

McRae is widely remembered as one of rallying’s most prominent figures and as the first British WRC champion. His profile was also boosted by the Colin McRae Rally video game series. His rallying career helped popularize the sport globally, including through the video game series, which was widely known in Canada among motorsport fans.

Key facts

  • McRae won the World Rally Championship in 1995, the first British driver to do so.
  • He recorded 25 WRC victories, which was the series record at the time of his retirement from full-time rallying in 2003.
  • He competed for teams including Subaru, Ford, and Citroën.
  • He was appointed MBE in 1996 for services to motorsport.
  • He died in a helicopter crash near Lanark, Scotland, in 2007.
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Canadian context

McRae’s rallying career helped popularize the sport globally, including through the Colin McRae Rally video game series, which was widely known in Canada among motorsport fans.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Colin McRae?
He was a Scottish rally driver who won the 1995 World Rally Championship and became the first British driver to take the title.
How many WRC wins did Colin McRae have?
He won 25 World Rally Championship events.
What teams did Colin McRae drive for?
He drove for Subaru, Ford, and Citroën in the World Rally Championship.
What honour did Colin McRae receive?
He was appointed MBE in 1996 for services to motorsport.
When did Colin McRae die?
He died on 15 September 2007 in a helicopter crash near Lanark, Scotland.

References

  1. World Rally Championship — https://www.wrc.com/en/misc/world-rally-champion-colin-mcrae
    Supports: Nationality, date of birth, WRC titles, WRC wins, starts, podiums, last WRC event, and his 1995 championship and death
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_McRae
    Supports: MBE honour, team history, 25 WRC wins, and retirement context
  3. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/50828276
    Supports: First British WRC champion, youngest-ever champion at the time, and death in 2007