NEWS: Rallyday Gets All McRae

One name, one word means everything to rally fans around the world – and to us here at Road Magazine, having been driven by all of them – McRae.

Rallying’s most famous family has won everything worth winning as well as the hearts of spectators from the earth’s four corners.

This year Jimmy will be joined by Alister, as McRae Jr flies in from Perth, Australia for Europe’s biggest and best one-day rally show at Castle Combe on Saturday September 21.

The two world-famous Scotsmen will enjoy the spotlight at the inaugural Rallyday Legends stage, where megastars from around the world of rallying wheel out some of the sport’s most special machinery and take it through a newly designed, more challenging test – part of which was used last time the RAC Rally visited Castle Combe in 1983.

The McRaes will share centre stage with Ireland’s foremost World Rally Championship hero Craig Breen, who confirmed his attendance with his MG Metro 6R4 earlier this year.

Jimmy and Alister will drive some of the cars which were the highlight of their glittering careers at Rallyday. Further details of an exciting programme (which involves a fascinating, and for the first time at Rallyday, challenge pitting age versus experience) will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Jimmy said: “Alister’s coming is he? Good, tell him he can follow me around – I’ll show him the right line…

“Seriously, it’s great to have him with us. Rallyday’s such a special event and we always get such a warm welcome. It’ll be great to share that with Alister. It seems the team are lining up some interesting cars for us to drive, which will be great – just as long as mine are faster than his!”

Alister might not have as many British Rally Championship titles as his father, but he outscores him convincingly in terms of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship crowns (he’s got two: the 1999 F2 award and the outright series win in 2011).

Thirty years ago this season, Alister celebrated his first championship win in rallying, taking the 1989 Scottish 1300 Rally Challenger silverware.

“Thirty years ago?” said Alister. “That can’t be right, can it? Don’t write that bit down…

“I’m really looking forward to Rallyday. Obviously I live in Western Australia now and, while it’s a life of sunshine, barbecues and beaches, the opportunities to drive some of the world’s best rally cars are probably a bit more limited than they are back in Britain. So, the chance to come home and say ‘hello’ to a lot of folk I’ve not seen in ages and drive these cars is great.

“Dad’s always been a really big fan of Rallyday and the one-day format with a big focus on celebrating the sport with the fans and the spectators and I’m looking forward to being part of that with him.

“And, obviously, showing him the fastest way around Castle Combe…”

Rallyday organiser Tom Davis is delighted to welcome the McRaes to the event.

“What can I say? The McRae name means everything to us all, doesn’t it?

“I’ve worked with Jimmy for a good few years now and his name is always among those right at the top of the list of drivers to invite – he’s a legend. Having Alister with us is going to make the day even more special.

“It’s a genuine honour for Rallyday to host these two guys.

“And what a way to get our new innovation the Rallyday Legends stage underway: two McRaes and Craig Breen. And, here’s the good news… that’s just the start. In the coming weeks and months you’re going to be hearing a lot more from Rallyday as we gear-up for September 21.”

Go to rallyday.com for advance tickets priced at £18 per adult (£25 on the gate). Under-17s, accompanied by an adult, get in for free.