I can imagine that trick, coupled with several others here and there, could aggregate to make McRae a potential winner if not a champion still. At least that was the case in 1995 when he actually won the title. You learn those things when you're chasing or being chased by Carlos Sainz of Spain, or Marcus Gronhom or Vatanen or Richard Burns, among others.
Curiously, one of McRae's biggest complaints about American rallying turned into praise by the time he left. This is from J.B. Niday, the Managing Director of Rally America and a key driving force to getting rally car racing into the X Games:
"X Games is the first time Colin had ever used the Jemba Stage Notes, which are used on every Rally America event. Nicky Grist (Colin's co-driver) shows up and explains that Colin will never understand these notes and he (Nicky) will have to re-write the whole thing.
"They go out and run the first couple stages (with Nicky's altered notes) and Colin emerges saying, 'There's not enough information!' So Nicky kind of cleans it up on the fly and they go out to the next couple stages and Colin says, 'Now there's too much information!
"The next couple stages, Nicky reads them basically as prepared and Colin says, "Those are just fine! They should use them on the WRC and eliminate the need for pace noting! Everyone will have the same information!'"
Niday said after the roll-and-near-win at the X Games, a writer from
a well-known U.S. publication asked Colin if he rolled the car on purpose to add to the drama.
Niday explained, "Colin said he looked at the guy with a cold stare and said, 'Of course!' And I think he believed me!'"
McRae not only left behind some of his legend for American drivers to sample, he added to his legend for American "journalists" to taste as well.
All of this is a set up for this weekend, when McRae will get a chance to drive in the WRC again. He'll be substituting for two-time defending WRC champion Sebastien Loeb ,who can't answer the bell at the Rally of Turkey because of a broken arm suffered in a mountain bike accident two weeks ago. The injury required surgery on his right arm.
Loeb will be in rehabilitation until further notice. Including this weekend's event in Turkey, there are four more rounds left in the 2006 championship. It's unclear when Loeb will return.
In 2003, McRae drove the Citroen Xsara as Loeb's teammate when he finished fourth in Turkey and seventh in the championship. He's been on the WRC sidelines since then, as most teams went down the young-gun road. You could also read that as: only hiring drivers with the money or the determination to "help" with the effort. I guess 25 wins and a championship in 120 starts doesn't amount to much anymore.
Colin McRae's legend may be diminished in the WRC but it will live forever in a food fight, on a U.S. rally road or on a PC somewhere near you!
