It seems ridiculous to suggest that genetics can make you a good rally racing driver but the McRae family of Scotland seems to indicate that it’s a factual statement. Jimmy was a destroyer in the world of British rally, winning the national championship multiple times, was a runner up in the European championship chase in 1982 and was the dad to Alister who competed in the WRC and of 1995 WRC champion Colin McRae. In this video we see Jimmy in his prime, beating a Vauxhall Chevette around England like it owes him money. He’s in a tight battle at this event and it is cool to see and hear Murray Walker interview him at the stage breaks.
Rally racing in England is such an interesting thing because the country’s roads, especially those in the country were totally made for it. Narrow, undulating, and filled with the kinds of blind terrifying corners people struggle with at 30mph, seeing rally cars heaving around them, leaping off the drop-offs, and sliding within inches of stone walls is just too damned cool.
We don’t want to sound like broken records around here but this era of rally racing really was tops for us. Yes, today’s cars do all the stuff better but they just don’t have the rawness that these things do. Horsepower? Clearly a bunch out of a screaming four banger engine. Watching the car get on two wheels and seeing Jimmy power out of the corner is pure racing genius.
We love this.
Press play to see Jimmy McRae in his prime wheeling a Vauxhall Chevette like a boss –
