Jimmy McRae
Encyclopedia
Jimmy McRae is a Scottish
rally
driver. He is the father of World Rally Championship
drivers Alister McRae
, and the late 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae
. Aside from his rallying career, McRae has maintained and run a very busy plumbing
business in his home town.
McRae was highly successful in the British Rally Championship
, winning the title five times in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1988. In the European Rally Championship
for drivers, he was runner-up in 1982, while his highest placing in the World Rally Championship was fifteenth in 1983.
Throughout his career, McRae drove for a number of different teams, reaching a pinnacle during his spell in the Rothmans
Rally Team, driving an Opel Manta 400. During his time at Rothmans, his team mates were Ari Vatanen
, Walter Röhrl
and Henri Toivonen
. He then progressed to the venerable MG Metro 6R4.
Though mostly retired from motorsport now, McRae still occasionally competes on historic rallies and some Scottish Rally Championship
events, with some occasional outings on the Wales Rally GB. In 2006 he won the Roger Albert Clark Rally in a Stobart Motorsport sponsored Mark 2 Ford Escort.
In September 2008, McRae was one of a number of ex-world and British champions to take part in the Colin McRae
Forest Stages Rally in memory of his son, who died in 2007. He drove a Porsche 911
on the rally. The impressive entry list included ex-World Championship drivers Hannu Mikkola
, Ari Vatanen
, Björn Waldegård
, Stig Blomqvist
, Malcolm Wilson
, Russell Brookes
, Andrew Cowan
and Louise Aitken-Walker
.
Jimmy takes part in the Lurgan Park Rally
. His most recent event was the 2011 rally.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
driver. He is the father of World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
drivers Alister McRae
Alister McRae
Alister McRae is a Scottish rally driver, who competed in the World Rally Championship. He is the son of the five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and the younger brother of the late 1995 World Rally Champion, Colin McRae...
, and the late 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, MBE was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995, became the first British person and the youngest to win the...
. Aside from his rallying career, McRae has maintained and run a very busy plumbing
Plumbing
Plumbing is the system of pipes and drains installed in a building for the distribution of potable drinking water and the removal of waterborne wastes, and the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures in such systems. A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping...
business in his home town.
McRae was highly successful in the British Rally Championship
British Rally Championship
The Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship is a yearly rallying series based in the United Kingdom. It comprises seven events with eight scoring opportunities throughout the British Isles. The first championship was run in 1958 and it has been licensed by the MSA Motor Sports Association since...
, winning the title five times in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1988. In the European Rally Championship
European Rally Championship
The European Rally Championship is the European continental championship series in rallying. It is organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile .-History:...
for drivers, he was runner-up in 1982, while his highest placing in the World Rally Championship was fifteenth in 1983.
Rothmans International plc
Rothmans International plc was a British tobacco manufacturer. Its brands included Rothmans and Dunhill. Its international headquarters were in Hill Street, London and its international operations were run from Denham Place, Denham Village in Buckinghamshire...
Rally Team, driving an Opel Manta 400. During his time at Rothmans, his team mates were Ari Vatanen
Ari Vatanen
Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen is a Finnish rally driver turned politician and Member of the European Parliament 1999–2009. Vatanen won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the Paris Dakar Rally four times....
, Walter Röhrl
Walter Röhrl
Walter Röhrl is a German rally and auto racing driver, with victories for Fiat, Opel, Lancia and Audi as well as Porsche, Ford and BMW.-Career:...
and Henri Toivonen
Henri Toivonen
Henri Pauli Toivonen was a Finnish rally driver born in Jyväskylä, the home of Rally Finland. His father, Pauli Toivonen, was the 1968 European Rally Champion for Porsche and his brother, Harri Toivonen, became a professional circuit racer.Toivonen's first World Rally Championship victory came...
. He then progressed to the venerable MG Metro 6R4.
Though mostly retired from motorsport now, McRae still occasionally competes on historic rallies and some Scottish Rally Championship
Scottish Rally Championship
The Scottish Rally Championship is a rallying series run throughout Scotland over the course of a year, that comprises seven gravel rallies and one tarmac event . Points are awarded to the top placed drivers and the driver scoring the highest number of points over the season is declared Champion...
events, with some occasional outings on the Wales Rally GB. In 2006 he won the Roger Albert Clark Rally in a Stobart Motorsport sponsored Mark 2 Ford Escort.
In September 2008, McRae was one of a number of ex-world and British champions to take part in the Colin McRae
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, MBE was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995, became the first British person and the youngest to win the...
Forest Stages Rally in memory of his son, who died in 2007. He drove a Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
on the rally. The impressive entry list included ex-World Championship drivers Hannu Mikkola
Hannu Mikkola
Hannu Olavi Mikkola is a retired world champion rally driver. He was a seven time winner of the 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland and won the RAC Rally in Great Britain four times.- Career :...
, Ari Vatanen
Ari Vatanen
Ari Pieti Uolevi Vatanen is a Finnish rally driver turned politician and Member of the European Parliament 1999–2009. Vatanen won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1981 and the Paris Dakar Rally four times....
, Björn Waldegård
Björn Waldegård
Björn Waldegård from Rimbo is a former Swedish rally driver, and the winner of the inaugural World Rally Championship for drivers in 1979...
, Stig Blomqvist
Stig Blomqvist
"Stig" Lennart Blomqvist is a Swedish rally driver. He made his international breakthrough in 1971. Driving an Audi Quattro for the Audi factory team, Blomqvist won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1984 and finished runner-up in 1985...
, Malcolm Wilson
Malcolm Wilson (rally)
Malcolm Irving Wilson, OBE is a British former rally driver. He is the father of current World Rally Championship driver Matthew Wilson....
, Russell Brookes
Russell Brookes
Russell Brookes is an English former rally driver. He won the British Rally Championship with a Ford Escort RS1800 in 1977 and with an Opel Manta 400 in 1985. In 1978, he won the Rally New Zealand, a round of the FIA Cup for Drivers, the predecessor to the World Championship for Drivers...
, Andrew Cowan
Andrew Cowan
Andrew Cowan is a Scottish former rally driver, and the founder and senior director of Mitsubishi Ralliart until his retirement on 30 November 2005.-Early years:...
and Louise Aitken-Walker
Louise Aitken-Walker
Louise Aitken-Walker MBE is a British rally and saloon car racing driver. Aitken-Walker entered competition in 1979 and finished 19th in her first Rally GB two years later...
.
Jimmy takes part in the Lurgan Park Rally
Lurgan Park Rally
The Lurgan Park Rally is a Rally event that is held in Lurgan Park in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. The rally has been sponsored by Orchard Motorsport for 3 years now. In 2010, the rally was given a new logo. The rally takes the year first, then the sponsor and then the venue....
. His most recent event was the 2011 rally.