Rally: Alister ready to fight for family honour

Dec 1 2006 Western Mail

McRAE will be the surname on the lips of most fans hoping for British success at this weekend's Wales Rally GB.

But it is not former world champion Colin McRae they will be cheering on but his younger brother Alister, who has been entrusted with the task of upholding family pride.

In what looks sure to be the most low-key renewal of this event for a decade, three-time winner and now semi-retired Colin will not be on the start line, his World Championship return in Turkey last month having yielded only frustration as he failed to finish due to electrical problems with his Citroen.

The Scot was standing in for world champion Sebastien Loeb, who had broken his arm in a mountain bike accident, but was not kept on by the Kronos team for the remaining rounds of the series in Australia, New Zealand and Britain.

With Loeb having secured a third consecutive world title during his injury absence, the Frenchman sees no reason to rush back into action, which means the participation of former Mitsubishi works driver Alister McRae is one of the main attractions to supporters who will line the forest stages in South Wales.

"It's down to me to uphold the McRae name," said Alister, whose highest placing in the event has been fourth in 1995 and 2001. "It would have been good if Colin had been involved because the sport needs characters and he has a very strong following.

"There are guys competing who are well known from the British Championship such as Mark and David Higgins and Jonny Milner, but I'm probably the home driver with the highest profile this time."

McRae is no longer a regular in the World Championship and has had to spread his wings far and wide in order to gain some action in 2006.

"It's not been a very busy year - I've competed in six events in China, South Africa and the UK and won three of them," the 35-year-old explained.

"For the second half of the year I've been working on a deal to run a Toyota in the Wales Rally GB and testing the new car and it's a very exciting project to be involved in.

"The car has been competing in South Africa for 18 months, but this is the first rally it will have contested in Europe and in the World Championship."

Entered by the British-based RED team, McRae's car is very much an unknown quantity but he hopes to be on the pace.

"You always like to have a good run, but it's all about finding out how quick the car is," he added.

"It's just great to be back in a round of the World Championship, especially in something as exciting as a new car to Europe.

"I drove the car in South Africa earlier this year and was very impressed with it.

"The driver has to be very committed to get the best out of it. It's a genuine driver's car, that's for sure.

"I also think it will be very spectacular, for drivers and fans alike. I'm delighted to be involved in this programme."

World Championship rallies have become a much different proposition in the last few years, no longer the endurance tests they were, but McRae believes their appeal has not dimmed.

"Rallies have changed for commercial reasons because that's what manufacturers want and they spend a lot of money promoting the sport," he explained.

"They have decided this is the best way from the drivers' point of view because you no longer have to drive through the night without a break.

"But, even though a rally is now a sprint, it's still very much a challenge because you have to give 100 per cent from the word go. It's a different challenge but every bit as rewarding when you get a good result."

The rally began with a ceremonial start at the Millennium Stadium last night before the real action gets under way today with the first six of the 16 special stages that will determine the finishing order.