Scotland’s Knockhill race circuit should have been overrun with rally stars and motorsport legends from down the generations last weekend. Pre-coronavirus, they were all Fife-bound to help the McRae family celebrate the 25th anniversary of Colin McRae becoming Britain’s first ever World Rally Champion.
COVID-19 forced the postponement of what’s still guaranteed to be an incredible event, but at least L555 BAT made it to Knockhill.
The car McRae and co-driver Derek Ringer used to win the RAC Rally and land British rallying its finest hour a quarter of a century ago was on track to be photographed next to a truck. Not just any truck, it’s an all-new McRae tribute truck, owned by James Gibb’s 5 Star Vehicle Deliveries. Gibb and his son Taylor are well known to Scottish rally fans for their exploits aboard a Mitsubishi Lancer.
But it’s about to be even more famous.
And it was all the idea of truck driver and lifelong McRae fan Ally Shaw. Shaw recently joined 5 Star from another truck firm and asked if his new truck could be painted as a tribute truck. The result was launched last weekend.
“It looks great,” said Jimmy McRae, present along with the Subaru Impreza 555. “It was fantastic when we saw the first one, so to have Ally driving in this one – especially with Max on there as well – is really nice.”
McRae’s nephew – son of Alister – and the latest rally driver from the McRae dynasty, Max is seen alongside Colin, Alister and Jimmy.
The truck, which will be delivering vehicles to and from Ayrshire from mainland Europe, features some of Colin’s standout moments from his career.
Fans are encouraged to ‘honk’ long and loud if and when they see it.
