It’s been twenty years since rally legend Colin McRae clinched his only World Rally Championship title on the 1995 Network Q RAC Rally and to mark the anniversary another famous British rally driver will be competing on next month’s Wales Rally GB in a familiar livery. Manx man David Higgins will tackle the final round of the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship in a Subaru Impreza WRX decked out in the iconic colour scheme that McRae won the 1995 series in.
The car has been bought by Subaru USA and is being prepared by Daventry based preparation firm JRM. Higgins, who is a seven time American rally champion, is looking forward to rekindling the fond memories of the 1995 Network Q RAC Rally.
“It’s fantastic to be coming back with this car,” said Higgins speaking to Autosport, “There’s definitely going to be a lot of emotion around when people see the car – it’s such a special livery. I drove one of Colin’s World Rally Cars at Rallyday not long ago and when I got out of it, there was definitely a lump in my throat. It’s going to be the same with this car.
“What we have here is a fantastic opportunity to remind people just how big Colin was and still is. It’s also really important to remember how important Colin and Derek [Ringer, co-driver] winning the world championship was for British rallying.”
The Manx man won his class on the 1995 event driving a Honda Civic but hasn’t competed on the British round of the WRC since 2008. Higgins instead has been based in the US where he has won the last five Rally America titles in a row. The 2015 Wales Rally GB and takes place from November 12 to November 15.
