Three decades and two months ago it was his uncle Colin who was the talk of this part of the world. Mid-Wales has always held special memories for the McRae family and third-generation Max upheld that tradition with his Junior ERC Rali Ceredigion win on Sunday.
Comparing the 20-year-old’s success with Colin McRae’s breakthrough 1994 RAC Rally win would be folly; the two have tasted Welsh success at very different points in their career. Maybe a better connection could be Alister’s maiden British Rally Championship class success on the 1990 International Welsh Rally – driving the family’s 1300cc Vauxhall Nova, he dominated the A5 category at the top of just his second full season in the sport.
What about Jimmy? Gramps too celebrated a turning-point win in Wales when he scored his first outright victory of significance at the 1979 Gwynedd Rally. A forest event of considerable reputation running through the mid and north Welsh woods, McRae Sr used a Vauxhall Chevette HS to edge such rivals as Malcolm Wilson and Russell Brookes.
Ceredigion is Wales’ – and Britain’s – biggest international event and Junior success is a significant achievement for Max and co-driver Cameron Fair. Perhaps even more important than upholding that fine family tradition of Welsh success, however, is the confidence inspired by his second European win of the year. Coming on the back of a couple of panel-benders in Sweden and Estonia, Max was looking to rebuild his speed and self-confidence.
He certainly did that on the lanes inland from Aberystwyth.
Granted, the Junior title has gone the way of his Swedish rival Mille Johansson, but last weekend represented a huge step for the Scot. Talking to his dad ahead of the event, there was no denying the pressure.
“He needs to get out there and enjoy himself,” said Alister. “Of course there’s pressure, that’s what this sport’s about – but what’s vital is the ability to put that to one side and get out there and drive the car. This is a great opportunity for Max to do that.”
There were, however, the tricky conditions to consider. Changeable grip levels and mid-corner mud galore combined to make an already complex event even more challenging. McRae nailed all of the above, turning in a drive that was surefooted, sensible and very quick.
McRae (left) and co-driver Fair celebrate victory in Wales
The big smile was very firmly in place at the finish.
“I needed that,” he told DirtFish, “but it wasn’t easy. The conditions were really tricky in places. I wanted to push hard today (Sunday) and losing the first couple of [cancelled] stages wasn’t ideal, but we just went hard on the two we did get.
“Winning the powerstage by a good margin was a nice way to end. It was fairly emotional at the finish, taking another European [win] is good. It’s only Mille and I who have won among the regular Junior ERC drivers and we’ve both done it twice.
“Yeah, there’s been a couple of dips this season, but the progress we’ve made in the last 12 months is great. I feel in a very different place to where I did this time last year.”
He’s not the first McRae to stand in the middle of Wales and say that…
