Rally Car Racer Colin McRae and Son Killed in Helicopter Crash

Sep 16 2007 / Lanark, Scotland
Former world rally champion Colin McRae and his five-year-old son were killed Saturday when the helicopter they were riding in crashed on the grounds of McRae's Scotland home in Lanark, Scotland.  Also killed were six-year-old Ben Porcelli and family friend Graeme Duncan, 37, of France.

McRae, 39, a licensed pilot, was at the controls of the Squirrel Two craft when it crashed as the four were returning from a nearby village.

Photo Gallery    See a photo gallery looking back on McRae's career. View the Photo Gallery>

In the last 20 years McRae was one of the top competitors on the Rally Car circuit, winning the 1995 World Rally Championship and ranking as runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001. McRae also won the silver medal at X Games 12 last year, along with co-driver Nicky Grist.

"He was such a great character and will be sorely missed," Grist, his co-driver since 1997, told Sky News Sunday.  "

In his home country McRae was considered a hero and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1996.  He also had a series of racing video games released which have sold more than eight million copies worldwide.

"It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny’s lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner," McRae's father, Jim McRae, said in a statement released on the driver's official website. 

"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty."

Jim McRae also expressed the family's sorrow for the passing of the two other passengers.

"Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan. Ben was a great buddy of Johnny’s and they had always spent a lot of time together both in and out of school. Graeme, who now resides in France, had been a close friend of Colin’s since their schooldays and was back in Lanark on holiday."

Fans of McRae and the sport of rally car racing have used the driver's website to share their thoughts and condolences, with one fan even posting a video tribute of McRae on YouTube (pictured below).  To leave your own message, visit http://www.colinmcrae.com/.