Rally world pays respect to McRae at Spanish race

Costa Daurada, Spain: The rally community came together on the sidelines of the Spanish Rally to remember and pay tributes to 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae, who died along with his five-year-old son Johnny and two friends in a copter crash on September 15.

Just before the ceremonial start of the 43rd Spanish Rally, members from all sections of the rally world along with his fans, came together at the Salou promenade to grieve for the first Briton to win the WRC title.

"This rally should be a tribute to Colin McRae. He was a really open and friendly person, a great guy," said Citreon driver Sebastian Loeb, three-rime world champion.

Another Citreon driver Francois Duval painted his helmet with Colin McRae's colours as a tribute to the late driver.

Current leaders in the constructors championship, the Abu Dhabi-backed BP-Ford teams, painted the name 'Colin McRae, MBE' on the three cars in the championship as a mark of respect for the 39-year-old who was a Ford driver at one time.

Earlier on Wednesday evening the BP-Ford team management remembered the champion with BP-Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson and current rally ace Marcus Gronholm paying tributes. "We will never see a driver with such a spectacular style. He has he given magical moments to the rally world, something we all will treasure," said Wilson.

"McRae's win in the legendary Safari Rally in Kenya in 1999 and the 26-second lead he established over his rivals in two stages in Portugal are the two feats which I would pick as his best.

"I also attended his funeral services and it is hard to believe he is no more. Though I was never in the same team with him, Colin is someone I looked up to," said Ford ace Gronholm.

McRae had taken part nine times in the Spanish Rally since 1995 and won it twice in 1995 and in 2000 while coming second here in 1994.

An exhibition of McRae's photos and video and press clippings of his winning performances were displayed in a hall at the Rally Headquarters here, while many gatherings, including the media briefing, started with a minute's silence for the champion Briton.