HUNDREDS of racing fans will take over Lanark this weekend to pay tribute to rally legend Colin McRae.
HUNDREDS of racing fans will take over Lanark this weekend to pay tribute to rally legend Colin McRae.
The world of motor racing was shocked last year when the former world champion died aged just 39 when his helicopter crashed near his Lanarkshire home.
Son Johnny, 5, and his friend Ben Porcelli, 6, were also killed in the crash along with friend Graeme Duncan, 37.
On Saturday, friends and fans will set out from the star's home town in a bid to break two world records in the McRae Gathering.
The one-off event has been organised by enthusiasts each of whom drives a variant of the Subaru Impreza that the Scot and navigator Nicky Grist raced to victory on the World Rally Championship in 1995.
Organiser Andy Greig said: "We wanted to stage a suitable event to pay tribute to Colin and we thought this was the best way. He is a large part of the reason why Subarus are so popular today.
"And it's certainly a main reason most of us drive these cars."
The double world record challenge, which will be assessed by officials from Guinness World Records, is being supported by racing technology company Prodrive that helps develop rally cars.
Colin's dad Jimmy, himself a rally legend, will drive his son's personal rally car to lead a convoy of 300 Subaru Imprezas out of the Lanarkshire town.
Drivers from as far afield as Poland, Spain, France and Luxembourg will take part and the convoy will more than double on its journey south, trouncing the record for the longest procession of a single marque, now held by 500 Fiat 500s.
By Sunday, more than 1100 of the vehicles are expected to have gathered at Prodrive's HQ in Banbury on a former airfield.
They will be split up according to their blue, silver or white livery to park in formation and make two giant saltires flanking the name "Colin McRae" in a 600 metre automotive mosaic to break another record.
Mr Greig said: "Pass-engers from Birmingham airport will see it as they take off or land."
Grist had planned to take part in the event but has been called to the US for urgent business.
The Welshman said: "My thoughts will be with the family this weekend.I'd hope in the future we will be able to have an event for all of Colin's thousands of fans and I'd like to speak at that.
"There are a lot stories that haven't been told.
"Colin was a character outside the car - as well as a fast driver in one."
Drivers are raising more than £30,000 for a foundation set up by the McRae family to support young drivers.
