Of Colin McRae’s 25 World Rally Championship wins, how many do you reckon weren’t claimed on fast, committed rallies that so perfectly suited his legendary flat-out driving style? One? Maybe two? Try 10 – or in other words, just under half.
For the flamboyant Scot never won on Sweden or Finland’s super-fast stages (although he was something of an expert in New Zealand), but instead found his most success on the stiflingly rough and demanding gravel stages of the Acropolis and the Safari.
As a statistic it feels as astonishing as the ultra-smooth and precise Richard Burns never winning on Tarmac (but, amazingly, that’s also true). To many, McRae’s entire legend was of this on-the-edge driver throwing his Impreza or Focus into corners at impossible angles as he sped on to victory – that is if he didn’t crash in the process of trying. Reality somewhat alters that picture.
In fact, as time wore on and a partnership with Nicky Grist started to blossom, McRae was arguably at his best when a gentle approach was required – not when outright speed was the only answer.
“All his worst events became his best events,”
