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The Race of Champions statement: death of Colin McRae
Media information: 16 September 2007
The Race of Champions favourite, Colin McRae, has died after the rally driver's helicopter crashed close to his Scottish home on Saturday (15 September).
McRae, who won the World Rally Championship in 1995 and The Race of Champions in 1998, was due to compete in this year's Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium.
"This is a terrible shock," said Fredrik Johnsson, President of The Race of Champions organisers IMP. "Colin was a very good friend who has been participating in our event for more than 15 years. He was one of the most spectacular drivers and hugely appreciated by everyone both on and off the track."
"Colin will be deeply missed at the event by organisers, drivers and fans alike. At this painful time our thoughts are with Colin's wife Alison and all his family. Together with Michele Mouton and everyone at The Race of Champions, we extend our sincere condolences to the McRae family."
McRae competed in 146 world rallies, winning 25, and made a huge contribution to motorsport over his 21-year career, thrilling fans with his 100% committed driving style.
He first participated in The Race of Champions in 1991 and became a regular after that, winning the event in 1998 and reaching the semi-finals in both the individual Race of Champions and The ROC Nations Cup last year with his teammate David Coulthard at Paris' Stade de France.
Editors’ Notes
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The Race of Champions was started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most successful female rally driver.
The Race Of Champions event on December 14 will be made up of two separate competitions – The ROC Nations Cup and The Race of Champions.
Each competition pits drivers against each other in a head-to-head knockout format, with equal equipment ensuring races are won and lost on talent alone.
The ROC Nations Cup features drivers paired into teams based on their nationality. The teams then fight head-to-head against each other in knockout competition. Last year Team Germany (Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel) beat Team Finland (Marcus Grönholm and Heikki Kovalainen) in the final.
The Race Of Champions is a straightforward knockout competition, where 16 drivers go head-to-head until the champion is decided. In last year’s Final, Mattias Ekström beat Michael Schumacher in the third race of a best-of-three battle.
Already confirmed for The Race of Champions 2008 are:
- Seven-times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Team Germany)
- Triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx (Team Autosport Great Britain)
- Honda Racing F1 Team race winner Jenson Button (Team Autosport Great Britain)
- Toro Rosso F1 racer Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany)
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