Former world rally champ Colin McRae has been voted the all-time greatest motorsport hero. The Lanark ace, tragically killed in a helicopter crash in September 2007, finished ahead of Formula One legends Ayrton Senna and Jim Clark in the poll.
McRae, who lifted the world championship in 1995 in his Subaru and who dazzled spectators around the world with his flamboyant driving style, also drove for Ford, Citroen and Skoda in the WRC on his way to winning 25 rallies.
“I don’t think Colin ever fully realised just how many followers he had,” McRae’s father, five-times British rally champ, Jimmy, said today after hearing the result of the poll voted for by Motorsport News readers.
“Colin was very well respected and had big support everywhere he drove. Being voted top of the poll is great news and it takes your breath away when you realise the names — including F1 world champs like Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna — who finished behind him.”
Motorsport News organised a similar poll 10 years ago when McRae was placed fourth, behind Senna, Clark and Nigel Mansell. In this year’s readers’ poll, recent F1 world champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were placed 25th and 43rd respectively.
JM