By Speedhunters

Car Culture At Large

I just saw this amazing video of the late Colin McRae during the WRC Portugal in 1997. The 80,000 crazy fans that are packed around stage one are truly insane, but at the same time I would have loved to have been there with them.

By Jeroen Willemsen

Derek Ringer will now co-drive for Travis Pastrana for Pastrana’s challenge in the FIA P-WRC Series. The series one level below the World Rally Championship (WRC), P-WRC is where drivers can enter production cars modified to FIA rally specifications. Derek Ringer co-drove with Colin McRae from the Early 80s to 2000 when bad blood between the two resulted in Ringer being replaced by Nicky Grist. The first event for the new Ringer/Pastrana team was this past weekend’s Rally Argentina, certainly the most vicious on record, where dense fog and muddy conditions led them to roll their car on stage one. So they may not be off to the most stellar start, but with Ringer’s history, Travis Pastrana stands to learn a lot and to better his rally experience.

A man noted for his fearless attacks in Rally stages all around the globe passed away this weekend in an unfortunate helicopter crash only 200 yards away from his 17th century home in Scotland. McRae was piloting his personal helicopter with his 5-year old son and two passengers; no word yet on the cause of the crash. He will be sadly missed by the rally and motorsports community. McCrae achieved 25 wins in the WRC with 42 podium finishes, including the title of World Rally Champion in 1995 and also competed in the US X-Games rally event. McRae also developed his own rally-class vehicle, the R4, and recently announced his own design for a Dakar racer, the Enduro. Fans and admirers can leave their condolences for the McRae family by clicking on the picture below.