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F1: David Richards Escapes Own Helicopter Crash
Written by: Adam Cooper
RACER Magazine   http://www.racer.com/speedtv
09/15/2007 - 07:00 PM
Spa, Belgium
 
McRae was a "legend", former employer and friend Richards believes. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos

Prodrive boss David Richards has escaped unhurt from a helicopter crash just 24 hours after another accident claimed the life of his long time driver Colin McRae.

Richards was piloting his own machine back to his UK home from a weekend trip to the Belgian GP when he suffered a terminal mechanical failure while he was in the airspace of Stansted Airport, to the north east of London. After he brought it down his machine toppled onto its side. His wife Karen was the only other person on board, and both were able to walk away.

Richards said later that he had left Belgium early in order to ensure that he got home safely in daylight. While at Spa Richards had paid tribute to McRae, who made his name with the Subaru team.

"I was flying across here yesterday," he told SPEEDtv.com. "Ari Vatanen called me and said have you heard what happened? When we landed here we got all the information. He was described on TV as a legend,
and there are not many people in this sport that you would put that term to, and I would certainly use it in the context of Colin McRae.

"In America they know car rallying because of Colin McRae. He still had a lot left in him as well. Only this week we were chatting on the telephone about ideas. He was just a great guy."

Meanwhile Richards insisted that his McLaren customer deal for 2008 and beyond is close to being finalized.

"It's all in hand. I wish I knew the exact date myself, but it's all going on schedule."



Get the inside story of the people, science and history of Formula 1 each month in RACER. Tony Dodgins looks into the complex issues behind the McLaren/Ferrari spy scandal in our October issue, on sale now.