Rate it!

0 votes

The event, which is being run for the first time at Wembley Stadium in London, and for the 20th time in its history, will pay tribute to the 1995 World Rally Champion.

"Yeah it's the 20th anniversary of the RoC, but when we heard about the sad news with Colin's accident, it was obvious that it would be much better to do a tribute to him," said the event's co-founder Frederik Johnsson.

"He participated in the most number of RoC's, he won it in 1998 – beating his brother Alister in the final – and we all miss him, so it is very appropriate."

McRae had been scheduled to join David Coulthard in Team Scotland for the Nations Cup section of the event, and will now be replaced by his brother Alister, the 1995 British Rally champion and a former WRC driver for Hyundai and Mitsubishi.

Coulthard said that he would miss his friend, with whom he had shared a number of memorable experiences on past RoCs.

"With it being out of our normal race season, me and Colin always made sure we made the most of the social opportunities in Paris [the event's former host city]," said Coulthard. "We were never the first ones into bed, put it that way, and we put the rest of the world to shame at the bar.

"I can still hear Colin's voice in my head telling me "come on DC, pull your finger out. He was tremendous, full of energy and he'll be sadly missed.

"The RoC was always a lot of fun with Colin around. It's very sad that he can't compete this year. I'm proud to be competing this year with Alister and continuing my association with the McRae name. And at Wembley too, it's brilliant."

This year's event takes place on December 16.

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport