1995 CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA
THE SINGLE MOST STRIKING THING about Colin McRae’s 1995 World Rally Championship title, according to nearly everyone who was lucky enough to be there at the time, is that it was more than 25 years ago. For many people, half a lifetime away. And because of that, it’s understandable that memories are patchy and some recollections gone, while others remain as vivid as if they happened a few minutes ago.
A bit like flicking through an album where an assortment of the photos are missing, the souvenirs of that season are a patchwork kaleidoscope of moments, not necessarily in chronological order, which combine to give a nostalgic flavour of what actually happened.
But most people already know the basics of the story. The wave of expectation that preceded the start of that 1995 season, a cut-throat year-long battle with Spain’s Carlos Sainz, and a finale which was the rallying equivalent of 1976 in Formula 1. A showdown between two maverick geniuses that turned into a resounding British triumph.
What’s perhaps even more interesting is how the passage of time has altered the perceptions of McRae’s achievements. For the people who were there, perspectives have subtly changed, from being caught up in the moment to looking back on an enduring feat that defined so many lives and careers.
“It was a showdown between two maverick geniuses”
Back then, like all good times, there was a feeling that everything was going to last forever. It was the height of the Group A era, with manufacturers – notably Subaru – coming into the sport and Colin’s star shining as bright as
