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It is with great sadness that today I learned of the death of Colin McRae. Colin, his son Johnny, friend Ben Porcelli, 6, and Graeme Duncan, 37, died following a helicopter crash in Lanarkshire on Saturday.About 40 firefighters attended the accident which happened in woods just north of Lanark at 1600 BST not far from Colins home. The Scottish Subaru Impreza Owners' Club have been leaving tributes at the entrance to the house.

I have admired Colin ever since I was an 12yr old boy in Ireland watching Colin (not much more than a boy himself) throw a Subaru Legacy around the woods and backroads of England. I have also been fortunate enough to have met the man on several occasions, most recently at Goodwood Festival Of Speed last June. He has always had time for both strangers and members of the press and I have never seen him not stop and speak to a fan. A true gentleman and a master of his trade.

The following is a tribute to Colin that I found on youtube today. I know that all of us here at TPW find it fitting and will miss the skill that Colin put into his craft.




When Colin left rallying it was with intrigue and delight that I looked forward to seeing what he did next. And he didn't disappoint. I remember seeing him in his first drive of an ASCAR (NASCAR UK style) racecar, not only did he start in fourth as a celebrity drive, but he moved up through the pack and demonstrated to the the old hands of the series how to peddle a car. Following this he went on to try his hand at Lemans endurance racing and Paris Dakar.

The last time I saw Colin drive was again at Goodwood in his new project, an off road car designed by himself. As ever his expression whilst driving was one of cool calm collectiveness and never flinching at what lay ahead.

I heard the news today whilst attending the UK 350z Owners Club national meet and was stopped in my tracks by the news. I will confess that although he was never a close friend, I felt so much admiration for the quiet man of motorsport, that I have shed quite a few tears tonight - for him, his little boy, the McRae family and the families of the others involved. However its Colin and his ability to succeed in everything he does that Ill miss the most. A Genius. A driving god. But most of all, A Gentleman.

On behalf of all the team at TPW I wish to offer the McRae's and the other families involved our sincerest condolences.
Kevin Mc Glone
Senior Editor: ThePitwall.com