Hollie McRae, daughter of late rally legend Colin McRae, was forced to retire from her racing debut after crashing her Mini during the Mini Challenge at the RAC Rally in Kielder Forest, Northumberland. The 26-year-old lost control of the car, which rolled onto its roof. Her co-driver and boyfriend, European rally championship driver Jon Armstrong, was unhurt alongside her.
The event took place exactly 30 years after her father became Britain's first World Rally champion at age 27. McRae, who was eight when her father died in a helicopter crash in 2007, admitted feeling 'gutted' after the crash but remained upbeat about the experience.
She said: 'I knew I was taking on a challenge when committing to a day of the RAC as my first rally but the opportunity arose and it was one that I couldn't turn down. Realising it was taking place on the 22nd of November, 30 years to the day after my Dad's WRC victory, made it all the more poignant.'
McRae described overcoming many emotions before the event and feeling 'on cloud nine' during the first stage. However, conditions worsened, and about halfway through the stage, the car snapped out on slush, slid off the road, and flipped onto its roof. She expressed gratitude for the support and preparation that went into making her first rally special.
Her mother Alison has been supporting her racing ambitions, despite initial concerns. McRae added: 'She is my biggest supporter, so I hope she'll be able to come along and cheer on from the sidelines.'
