Triple FIA World Champion Petter Solberg to join celebrations of the achievements of Colin McRae at the International McRae Rally Challenge

Triple FIA World Champion Petter Solberg will be in Scotland to attend the 3rd running of the International McRae Rally Challenge, supported by Event Scotland, at Knockhill Racing Circuit on Saturday, 20th of September. Petter will join the McRae family, a host of rally legends and a star-studded entry list to join in the celebrations of the achievements of his former teammate Colin McRae

Thirty years ago in November, Colin McRae was crowned as Britain’s first ever World Rally Champion. Joining the same Ford team as Colin for the 1999 season, the two became and remained close friends thereafter.

“Colin was somebody I will always remember as such a good friend,” said Petter. “He helped me so much at the start of my career. Sometimes you know, you can find these drivers who are a little bit afraid for the younger guy coming to the team – not Colin. He took me in the car on the test, and he told me everything I asked. And I asked a lot!

“The years we had in the world championship together were so special, so many stories – including the one about him, me and Tommi Mäkinen being the last to leave the bar the night I got married.

“Colin was this incredible, fierce competitor who was also such an amazing, helpful, generous and lovely family guy. To be with Alison, Hollie, Jimmy, Margaret, Alister, and the whole family in Scotland will be something very special for me. Celebrating what Colin and Derek Ringer, his co-driver, achieved in 1995 is fantastic. The way they won it, with such an amazing drive on the RAC Rally, was so typical of both of their abilities. We’ll never forget this year.”

“For sure, this is going to be an emotional weekend, but it’s not often we have this chance to remember such a great friend, to honour his memories and be among other friends and family.

“I would like to thank the organisers of the McRae Rally Challenge for inviting me over".

Stuart Gray, Knockhill Director of Events said "We are thrilled and honoured to have Petter join us at Knockhill for the first time. His close relationship with Colin McRae is legendary and he will bring so much to what is an already special event. He is the 5^th world champion to be joining us as Stig Blomqvist, Luis Moya, Derek Ringer and Louise Aitken-Walker are all confirmed. It is going to be a rally sporting weekend, the likes of which Scotland has not seen before."

Event info and tickets, and a special gala dinner on the same evening on the 20th of September, can be purchased via McRAE TICKETS McRAE DINNER