h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My footnote in the entry explains that the words above are the words of family and friends, co-drivers, competitors and colleagues. Here, I wanted to give a bit more detail about who said what.


*His driving*
Flat-out, fast
Big balls, brave

David Evans (Autosport Rallies Editor): "If you weren't utterly flat out and completely committed to somehow making it into the lead, then the WRC in the new era - the Colin era - was not for you."

Robert Reid (friend, rally driver and co-driver): "We were going so quick his windscreen wiper was lifting off the screen, so he was driving flat-out down this hill at about 90mph, looking out of my side of the screen."

David Lapworth (Subaru Team Boss): "He could've kept his nose clean and won by driving 1/10th of a second per kilometre faster, instead he went half a second per kilometre faster..."

Carlos Sainz (WRC champion, Subaru and Citroen team-mate): "A fast driver, a natural driver and such a brave driver."

Neale Dougan (friend and rally driver): "Colin co-drove for me when he was 16. I thought at the time 'This boy's got bigger balls than anybody, even when in the passenger seat!' "


*His work*
Competitor and character
Hero and friend

Carlos Sainz: "First of all, more than a competitor, I want to say that I have lost a friend."

Derek Ringer (co-driver): "In rallying terms, if Petter Solberg is a John Travolta character, then Colin's Jimi Hendrix!"

David Evans: "He was my hero who became my friend."

Petter Solberg (Ford team-mate): "When I first arrived in the Ford team, Colin McRae was still my hero. He and Tommi became my best friends in the sport."

Tommi Makinen (WRC champion): "You know Colin was a friend for me, but also my biggest rival."


*His passion*
Rallying cars
Flying 'copters

Jim McRae (Colin's father, and British Rally Champion): "He had a passion for flying helicopters as he did for rally cars."


*His accident*
Ironic, unbelievable
Tragic (just tragic)

Jim McRae: "It's very ironic when you consider the dangerous life that Colin had in his career. To lose his life here, 50 yards from the front door... It's very ironic, it's almost unbelievable."

Carlos Sainz: "So many risks here and there in the rally car - only for this. It's an unbelievable story."

Neale Dougan: "Colin never took a chance with the helicopter. Never. What happened was a tragic accident and these memories are all we're left with."


*His life*
Colin. A Champion.
End of story.

David Evans: "One word was all it took. That word was 'Colin'."

Carlos Sainz: "He was a champion, end of story."


Paff